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33. MEDICAL ASPECTS OF COUNCIL HOUSING
Many persons who have applied for Council housing or who wish for a transfer
from one Council house to another require special consideration by reason of illness
or disability suffered by a member of the family. Such consideration can only be given
if a doctor's letter or certificate is furnished. These certificates are usually forwarded
in the first place to the Housing Manager who then seeks advice from the health
department on the medical implications, at the same time forwarding any relevant
information that is to hand in his own department.
A medical certificate alone does not always give sufficient information about a
particular case and a visit to the family concerned may be required by a medical
officer, health visitor, mental health social worker or public health inspector. Over
200 visits were made by members of the staff during the year. In addition, such visits
often bring to light circumstances which lead to the supply of other health department
services or referral to another department of the Council in order to help the tenant
apart from his housing need.
After assessing the case, the medical officer may recommend the award of a
limited number of points on medical grounds, which are added to the general points
total of the applicant. In many cases this is sufficient to ensure that the applicant
receives consideration within a short time. In cases where the general points total is
too low for a medical points addition to make any difference and where, by reason of
the medical circumstances, there is great hardship to the persons involved the
application may be referred to the appropriate housing sub-committee for discussion
and decision.