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24.
As a result of these visits it was found that tho percentage
of cases of statutory overcrowding was comparatively small but in many
instances the housing conditions were unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons,
e.g. the sharing of kitchen and other accommodation between families with
consequent friction, children having to sleep in living rooms, insufficient
accommodation for sex distribution, etc. Some improvement was effected in a
nunber of cases by advice concerning re-allocation of existing accommodation
and by -maintaining property in as satisfactory a state as possible under
existing conditions, either by informal action or where necessary by the
serving of statutory notices. In addition, and so that the maximum use
might be made of existing housing accommodation, houses were requisitioned
by the Council mainly under Defence Regulations, for persons rendered homeless
by enemy action and a small number under powers conferred by Circular 2845 of
the Ministry of Health.
At the end of the year 937 requisitioned properties were held by
the Council.
Those measures are obviously only palliative and the housing
situation will be rendered still more acute when demobilisation of the Armed
Forces takes place.
HENDON ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
Bed accomodation was maintained throughout 1944 at 98 fever beds
for the isolation and treatment of infectious diseases and 20 E.M.S. beds.
The decline in the number of cases of infectious diseases reduced the
numbers of admissions as compared with the previous year. This was mainly due
to a reduction in tho incidence of scarlet fever and measles but on the other
hand 38 cases of whooping cough were admitted as compared with six. In both
measles and whooping cough accommodation is sought in a number of instances
because of unsatisfactory home conditions but much more frequently because of
complications, particularly broncho-pneumonia. This latter complication
generally responds well to treatment but occasionally, as was the case in two
out-district cases, the disease was so advanced as to cause the death of the
patients shortly after admission.