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application of the general standards of fitness set out
in the Housing Act 1957, and the regulations previously
made became ineffectual.
The Housing (Underground Rooms) Act, 1959, which
came into operation on June 14th 1959, restored the
previous position, however, and the Minister of Housing
and Local Government indicated that he was prepared to
consider any new regulations which authorities may wish
to make. In this connection, attention was directed to
the existing model regulations which had been revised to
bring them in conformity with present-day standards, and
local authorities were asked to review their own regulations
in the light of the revised model.
The Advisory Body of Borough Medical Officers
considered the revised model regulations and reported to
the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee that
in some respects they fall far short of the previous
model upon which most Metropolitan Boroughs based their
existing regulations. The Advisory Body suggested various
amendments which the Standing Joint Committee have submitted
to the Minister for his consideration and suggest
that the model regulations should be amended accordingly.
The Assessment of Applications for Rehousing on Medical
Grounds.
The housing problem is still a long way from solution.
It has considerable public health implications, and
places heavy responsibilities on the Medical Officer of
Health, who must assess the degree of priority to be
awarded to applicants furnishing medical certificates in
support of their rehousing claims. The number of these
certificates has increased steadily in the London area
since the war. Many patients believed that the greater
the number of certificates the more priority was obtained
and the quicker the rehousing. Although this was not so,
it was difficult to explain the real situation to them.
The variety of certificates submitted was considerable
and their value and accuracy were sometimes obviously
doubtful. It was clearly necessary for some regulation
to be introduced to produce conformity and a substantial
measure of fairness in allocating priority and also to
allow the family doctor a chance to give his objective
recommendation confidentially.