London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1968

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]

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Applications for Certificates of Disrepair :

1957/6319641965196619671968
1. Number of applications for Certificates66810-637
2. Number of decisions not to issue Certificates241--1-
3. Number of decisions to issue Certificates:
(a) in respect of some but not all defects5204--15
(b) in respect of all defects1245612
4. Number of undertakings given by landlords under paragraph 5 of the First Schedule4157-612
5. Number of undertakings refused by Local Authority under proviso to paragraph 5 of the First Schedule3--112
6. Number of Certificates issued2322127
Applications for Cancellation of Certificates :
7. Applications by landlords to Local Authority for cancellation of certificates134226-7
8. Objections by tenants to cancellation of certificates54--1-2
9. Decisions by Local Authority to cancel in spite of tenant's objection18--1-2
10. Certificates cancelled by Local Authority98226-7

(4) Medical Priorities
All applications for rehousing on medical grounds, when supported by a medical
certificate, receive preliminary screening and during the year 136 of these cases were
subsequently referred by the Housing Officer for further investigation.
Considerable care is taken to assess the housing need of the applicant in relation
to his or her medical condition. Ill health, particularly where there are predominant
mental or emotional factors is often very difficult to define in clear and sharp terms,
but a full appraisal of the socio-medical background of an applicant does enable an
assessment to be reached.
In order to assist me to give the Housing Sub-Committee more guidance as to the
urgency or otherwise for rehousing the following new system of classification was
introduced on 1st July, 1968 and this appears to be working well.
Category A — To be used only when the medical condition of the applicant
is such that unless rehoused urgently there is an immediate
risk to his life or to the health of other persons.
Category B — To be used when the applicant's own health will deteriorate
if not rehoused but has not the same degree of urgency as in
Category' A.
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