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
Kensington 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following is a summary of the action taken during 1964:-Part I - Applications for Certificates of Disrepair
| Number of applications for certificates | 2 |
| Number of decisions not to issue certificates Number of decisions to issue certificates - | Nil |
| (a) in respect of some but not all defects | Nil |
| (b) in respect of all defects | 2 |
| Number of undertakings given by landlords | 1 |
| Number of undertakings refused by Council | Nil |
| Number of certificates issued | 1 |
| Part II - Applications for cancellation of Certificates | |
| Applications by landlords to Council for cancellation of certificates | 5 |
| Objections by tenants to cancellation of certificates | 1 |
| Decision by Council to cancel in spite of tenant's objection | 1 |
| Certificates cancelled | 5 |
OVERCROWDING
All cases of overcrowding are dealt with on the strict interpretation
of the standards laid down in the Housing Act, 1957: distinguishing between
"penal" and "non-penal" cases.
The number of new cases of overcrowding reported to the Committee
during 1964 was 169, giving an equivalent number of persons of 64l. The total
number of overcrowding cases which were recorded during the year as having
been abated was 160, comprising a total of 618½ units.
ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING PRIORITIES ON MEDICAL GROUNDS
During the year, 135 applications for rehousing on medical
grounds were examined, and recommendations for the award of additional points
were made to the Chief Housing Officer. In each case, the precise medical
condition and resultant disability were determined (frequently necessitating
communication with the family doctor or with the hospital attended). The
premises were inspected in detail to ascertain the extent and nature of the
existing accommodation; the adequacy of day and sleeping space; the risk of
infection; the existence of remediable or irremediable sanitary or
structural defects, and the existence of inconveniences, such as stairs, which
might be prejudicial to the patient.
On this information and that supplied by the Chief Housing Officer,
an assessment of points to be awarded on medical grounds was made in 133 cases.
FACTORIES
Section 153(l) of the Factories Act, 1961, requires the Medical
Officer of Health to make an annual report in regard to the Council's
functions under the Act. The following tables give the prescribed
particulars in the form requested by the Ministry of Health in Circular No.
1/65, dated 11th January, 1965:-