View report page

Rehousing—Assessment on Medical Grounds
Dr. Z. Zubrzycki, Senior Medical Officer
The new scheme for assessment of medical cases which was introduced in August 1971 resulted in a considerable
increase of cases referred for assessment by the Housing Department, while the number of requests from
hospitals and general practitioners slightly decreased. This was a natural outcome of the ease with which an
applicant could make his own statement of his, or of any member of his family's medical condition on which he
claimed his priority. This form of statement became open to some criticism, as the scheme continued to
operate. It was felt that sometimes it was too difficult for a lay person to describe the nature of his illness or
disability. In such cases a letter was usually sent to applicants general practitioner or a visit made by the medical
officer to assess the degree of priority.
88 special cases referred to the Panel consist mainly of elderly often lonely people severely handicapped by
crippling diseases of old age. The accommodation which they occupy is often too large for them and with
stairs which they cannot manage. They are special in the sense that they have no chance of consideration on
their housing points total even if the maximum (15) medical points are awarded. In this way a serious medical
case may not be a special if the 1st degree of medical priority with 15 points will bring it up to the level of points
necessary to be considered by the Panel as a non-medical case.
Number of requests for transfer on medical grounds shows a welcome decrease as compared with the previous
year. As almost all requests come from tenants living in flats this fall may well reflect decrease of cases of
"block of flats" neurosis.

*These figures include second investigations carried out during the year.

103 cases were investigated where no medical recommendation was made.
*These figures include second assessments made during the year.
67