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36
REHOUSING
The continuing increase in the local population has added to
the difficulties in the acute shortage of housing accommodation,
which is now even greater than in previous post-war years.
The increase in the number of cases dealt with by the Public
Health Department emphasises this shortage, which is causing
applicants to seek the assistance of the Department for recommendations
on grounds of ill-health, insanitary or overcrowding
conditions.
1947
1948
1949
1950
Cases investigated on medical, overcrowding
and sanitary grounds 933 1,450 1,669 2,156
No. of visits involved 1,263 1,814 2,298 2,587
Medical.
Applicants for rehousing seeking priority recommendations
on medical grounds have been more numerous than ever, and a
most careful scrutiny of these cases has been essential in order
that recommendations are made only for the most urgent cases,
having regard to the nature of the illness, the condition of the
property and the amenities available.
Advanced rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis cases, crippling
congenital deformities, etc., housed in top floor dwellings, are
recommended for ground floor accommodation. Respiratory
tuberculosis patients who cannot be given separate bedrooms
are usually recommended for rehousing in outer London where
the air is less polluted; recommendations are also made for
non-pulmonary cases where home conditions are bad, and the
numerous cases of recurrent bronchitis or associated respiratory
conditions where patients live in very damp dwellings.
From consultations with local doctors, it appears that a very
substantial proportion of their patients are suffering from
some nervous condition attributable to housing conditions.
Neurotic tendencies are evident in numerous cases seeking
medical priority for rehousing but again only the most extreme
cases can be recommended.
The following table shows that the necessity for these drastic
standards has resulted in fewer recommendations being made
despite the increased cases dealt with. This remedial rather than
preventive approach, though quite unavoidable, can only add to
the cumulative difficulties of rehousing, and is also likely to
create a grave sociological problem.