London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chigwell 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chigwell]
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8. HE-HOUSING PRIORITY ON MEDICAL GROUNDS.
80 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 investigated by the Medical Officer of Health and recommendations made were as follows:-
| Disease | Total Applicants | Priority Recommended | Priority Not recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma, bronchitis, catarrhal diseases etc. | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| Heart disease | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| Nervous disease (anxiety states, neurasthenia,neurosis etc;) | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| Rheumatism | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Tuberculosis | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Other diseases | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Other conditions | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 80 | 41 | 39 | |
| Figures for 1957 were | 95 | 29 | 66 |
| ,, ,,1958 ,, | 76 | 34 | 42 |
| ,, ,, 1959 ,, | 103 | 45 | 58 |
| ,, ,, 1960 ,, | 123 | 40 | 83 |
The 39 applicants not recommended for medical priority
include (l) 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);
(if) Repeated requests already assessed.
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