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which, when considered in conjunction with housing conditions, should
be taken into account in assessing hardship, were to be referred to the
Medical Officer of Health for his consideration.
In 1952 there were well over 2,000 families on the list, and with this
revision and since a considerable number of medical applications
have been considered.
This year a record has been kept of these applications, which
are now greatly reduced in number, and an analysis has been made of
59 new applications to the supplementary housing list.
The maximum medical points (30 points) were recommended in
15 cases; and in three of these the circumstances were such that
detailed reports were completed for the Sub-committee so that these
cases, on their merits, could be considered out of their normal points
turn. Two examples may be given. A brother and sister lived
alone. The sister was over 60 years and had an artificial leg to the
hip, which, because of pain, could not be used; the brother, a few
years younger, and an invalid, helped his sister down twenty-five steps
to the lavatory and kitchen. In another instance an old age pensioner
over 80 years, and his wife over 60 years, lived alone and had twenty-six
steps down a very awkward staircase to an outside lavatory. The
husband, with a history of a stroke, was to be discharged from hospital
after an operation on a broken hip; the wife had a history of a fractured
knee-cap. There was a risk of further stumbling and injury.
In the remaining applications the distribution of points was as
follows: Twenty points were awarded in 9 cases; fifteen points in
20 cases; ten points in 12 cases; five points in 3 cases.
Thus in 74 per cent of applications a half or more of the maximum
medical points permitted were awarded. The ages of the applicants
were made up as follows: 80—90 years, 2; 70—80 years, 6; 60—70
years, 9; 50—60 years, 4; 40—50 years, 9.

*Includes one case of Alopecia due to worry and two cases of Epilepsy,
†Includes two cases of Coronary Thrombosis.
‡Includes two cases of Varicose Veins; one case of Diabetes; one case of
Menieres Disease; four cases of Gynaecological disease or operation.
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