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29
Rehousing on Medical Grounds
The Council's points system for assessing priority for rehousing makes some allowance on
grounds of ill health, but it is recognised that the effect of unsatisfactory housing conditions on
the health of some applicants warrants special consideration by the Housing Lettings SubCommittee.
To meet this need arrangements exist for the Housing Manager to forward to the
Medical Officer of Health details of housing applications where medical evidence has been submitted
supporting the need for rehousing. These cases are then visited and an assessment made
of the medical grounds and the amount of priority which could be recommended, special regard
being given to the relationship of housing to the illness or risk of infection to others.
Whilst in a large proportion of these cases a decision can be made without reservation
whether or not to recommend the application for medical priority, others are less easily determined.
Particularly difficult are the cases of mental ill health for most families living in cramped and
difficult housing conditions are subject to mental stress and care is taken to ensure that priority
over other deserving cases is not given unless the medical aspects can be clearly established.
Wien any doubt exists and it is not possible to give unqualified support for medical priority, the
facts are placed before the Sub-Committee for their consideration and decision.
Assessments of 71 cases were made where applicants had submitted medical certificates
in support of their applications for rehousing.
After investigation the following recommendations were made:-
1. Urgent medical priority justified 10
2. Refer to Committee 37
3. Allow medical points 7
4. Unable to support 14
5. Circumstances changed making further
action unnecessary 3
FOOD CONTROL
In my annual report for 1959 I drew attention to the requirements of the new regulations
governing the construction and operation of slaughterhouses.
This "Slaughterhouse Report* was submitted to the Minister and was confirmed in 1960,
to take effect as from 1st January, 1962.
Local slaughterhouses operating at the present time will continue to do so under existing
licences until the end of 1961. Nevertheless, every effort is made to ensure that all operations
are carried out, and the carcases produced, consistent with a good standard of hygiene.
Routine inspections continue to be carried out in all types of food premises and would seem
to be the best method of attaining a good standard of hygiene.
The vigilance of the staff engaged in this work has resulted in an increasing number of
prosecutions against persons smoking whilst engaged in handling food.