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
Hammersmith 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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STAFF
Inspectorate
The establishment of inspectors consists of chief public health inspector,
deputy chief public health inspector, nine senior inspectors,16
district inspectors, 8 student inspectors and 4 technical assistants. For
the greater part of the year the establishment was up to the required
strength.
Sanitary Circumstances
Housing - Preferential rehousing on medical grounds
During the year 872 applications for rehousing on medical grounds were referred by the Housing Manager for assessment.
| These were graded as under:- | |
|---|---|
| (i) That priority be given | - 15 |
| (ii) That preferential consideration be given on urgent medical grounds | - 159 |
| (iii) That allocation of 'points' provided for in the Council's scheme be made | - 623 |
| (iv) That no special action is warranted | - 75 |
| 872 |
Following discussion on this subject at meetings of the Inner London
Local Medical Committee, and with the co-operation of the Council's Housing
Manager, it has been decided to vary the procedure with regard to the
submission of medical evidence in support of applications for housing
accommodation. In future it is proposed to adopt a system whereby applicants
wishing to claim consideration on medical grounds will be asked to
state on a special form their reasons for so doing, and indicate that they
have no objection to their medical adviser providing me with further information.
After the form submitted by the applicant has been considered,
only in those cases where it appears necessary will the medical practitioner
concerned be contacted. This scheme is being generally adopted by
the Inner London Boroughs and it is hoped thereby to restrict the calls
and demands made upon local general practitioners in this matter.
House-to-House Inspections
The programme of house-to-house surveys to deal with general housing
defects, nuisances and the enforcement of adequate facilities and means
of escape in case of fire in houses in multiple occupation was continued
in 1968.
Selected streets were surveyed by the specialist housing section and
district public health inspectors dealt with these matters as they arose
in parts of the Borough not covered by house-to-house inspections.
It is fait to say that considerable progress was made in this field
of activity, action to require additional facilities and means of escape
B.l