London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chigwell 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chigwell]
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RE-HOUSING PRIORITY ON. MEDICAL GROUNDS.
110 requests for priority for re-housing on medical grounds were referred to me for assessment, usually supported by a doctor's written certificate. Each case was fully investigated and my recommendations were as follows:-
| Diseases or Condition | Total Applicants | Priority Recommended | Priority Not Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma, bronchitis, catarrhal diseases etc. | 20 | 7 | 13 |
| Blood pressure | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Heart disease | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| Nervous disease (anxiety states, neurasthenia, neurosis etc.) | 31 | 8 | 23 |
| Rheumatism | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| Tuberculosis | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Other diseases | 4 | - | 4 |
| Other conditions | 24 | 3 | 21 |
| Condition not specified | 1 | - | 1 |
| 110 | 34 | 76 | |
| Figures for 1959 were | 103 | 45 | 58 |
| " " 1960 " | 123 | 40 | 83 |
| " " 1961 " | 80 | 41 | 39 |
| " " 1962 " | 86 | 34 | 52 |
The 76 applicants not recommended for medical priority include
(1) Illness not aggravated by housing conditions; (2) Temporary indispositions;
(3) Those pleading the discomforts of overcrowding and structural defects
(i.e. grounds other then medical) ; (4) Repeated requests already assessed.
FLUORIDATION OF WATER. SUPPLIES.
Following the Minister of Health's notification of his willingness
to approve arrangements with Water Undertakers for the addition of fluoride
to water supplies which are deficient in it naturally, the Council informed
the Essex County Council, the Metropolitan Water Board and the Central Council
for Health Education that Chigwell Urban District Council is in favour of
controlled fluoridation. /The
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