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HOUSING ALLOCATION—MEDICAL FACTORS
The number of new applications for rehousing referred to the department for consideration
because of the presence of medical factors was at 415 the highest total since the formation of the
Borough and 62 more than last year. Applications for transfer numbered 161 making a total of
576 referrals during 1971.

In the Annual Report for 1970 (page 115) attention was drawn to the fact that of the applications
for rehousing in which the medical factors were supplied by general practitioners less than
12% were considered deserving of support compared with 90% of those in which the primary
source of referral was hospital staff. General practitioners certificates issued "on demand" appeared
to have outlived any usefulness they might have had particularly as the general practitioners
themselves are always prepared personally to draw attention to genuine cases of hardship where
housing factors play an important part. During 1971 the Housing Committee agreed that a doctor's
certificate would no longer need to be submitted in support of applications where priority on
medical grounds was being sought, although the contents of any such certificates submitted
would continue to be considered.
Applicants themselves are now invited to give full details concerning any medical condition
which they feel is being aggravated by existing housing factors and also in giving the names of
the general practitioner or hospital consultant, they are free to give written consent for the medical
attendant to be approached for additional information if this is considered necessary. Although
the medical form was not introduced until mid-year a total of 124 applicants made use of it during
1971 (96 when applying for rehousing and 28 with transfer applications). In many cases, few
details of a truly medical nature were supplied and there may be a tendency for some applicants
to use the form even when the medical factors are of questionable significance. The continued
use of the form will be viewed with interest.
Housing Needs of the Elderly
Of the 415 applications for rehousing referred by the Director of Housing during 1971, 156
were from people of pensionable age and medical factors deserving of support were considered
to be present in 99 of these cases.
A special recommendation to the Housing (Selection) Sub-Committee is made in cases
where it is clear that serious and permanent medical conditions are being aggravated by the
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