London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chigwell 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chigwell]
This page requires JavaScript
Medical Grounds.
68 requests for priority for re-housing on medical grounds were referred to the Medical Officer of Health for assessment, usually supported by a doctor's written certificate. Each case was fully and personally investigated and recommendations made were as follows:—
| Disease | Total Applicants | Priority Recom- Not mended | Priority Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nervous disease (anxiety states, neurasthenia, neurosis, etc.) | 17 | 3 | 14 |
| Asthma, bronchitis and catarrhal diseases, etc. | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Rheumatism | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Heart disease | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Tuberculosis | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Disease of digestive system | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Other diseases | 24 | 4 | 20 |
| 68 | 18 | 50 | |
| Figures for 1952 were | 91 | 31 | 60 |
| Figures for 1953 were | 46 | 22 | 24 |
The 50 applicants not recommended for medical priority
included (1) illness not aggravated by housing conditions (2)
Temporary indispositions; (3) Those pleading the discomforts
of overcrowding and structural defects (i.e., grounds other
than medical); (4) Repeated requests already assessed.
20