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MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF
The trial scheme of invigilation by questionnaire of the health of new
entrants to the Council's staff outlined in ray report for 1967, continued
during the year, and after review at the end of 12 months in August 1968, it
was decided to adopt this system for the future.
During the year 879 questionnaires were submitted for scrutiny. 631
candidates were approved without further enquiry, and 27 were accepted after
enquiries had been made and without medical examination.
The following examinations were carried out:-
No. of persons medically examined 534
No. of persons found to be unfit 34
No. of persons accepted conditionally 44
No. of persons examined in connection with
sickness payments 41
No. of persons examined for other authorities 6
No. of persons examined by other authorities 29
No. of Chest x-rays arranged in connection with
medical examinations 392
REHOUSING ON MEDICAL GROUNDS
In order that every person who considers himself eligible for rehousing
on medical grounds is treated with equal fairness, one of my medical officers
(the Deputy Medical Officer of Health) is responsible for investigating the
medical histories of all applicants. This is a breakaway from the usual
pattern, whereby the doctor receives housing reports and medical/social
reports from the public health inspector and health visitor respectively.
All information (i.e. housing details from Housing Department and medical
recommendation from a doctor) is placed in front of my Deputy, and where it
is not possible to make a decision from this information, he will visit the
person in his home.
Statistics
Total number of applications 280
Number of families visited 101
Number recommended for rehousing 32
All the applicants with young families were already on the Council's
list for rehousing either by virtue of overcrowding - the majority - or
because of clearance areas, and therefore overcrowding of itself cannot
be considered as a medical reason.
The other main group of applicants were retired pensioners, who found
their present accommodation physically unsuitable because of increasing
infirmities. The most frequent problem was the difficulty in climbing stairs
Often it is necessary to climb four flights of 12-14 stairs to reach their
accommodation.
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