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19
Housing
Allocation
Medical
Grounds
GENERAL SERVICES
M.T. FERNANDES, M.B., B.S., D.P.H., D.I.H., D.C.H., L.M.,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
The Housing Points Scheme remains operational in the Department
and applications for rehousing continue to be referred to the Medical
Officer of Health when medical facts, supported by general practitioner's
certificate or hospital letter are put forward for consideration.
Applications from Council tenants who wish to transfer to other
accommodation for medical reasons are also referred to the Medical
Officer of Health.
Although the Medical Officer of Health may recommend "points" (5,
10 or 15) or outright rehousing on medical grounds, in many cases in
which the medical condition is considered not to be aggravated by existing
living conditions, no recommendation is made. During 1968, 287
cases were referred and recommendations were made in only 251 of such
cases, the remaining ones being considered not to warrant medical
support for rehousing.
In a small number of cases the applicant may not satisfy the residential
qualifications or it may be considered that he is already
adequately housed. If, however, the medical conditions is being seriously
aggravated by the existing living conditions, the Medical Officer of
Health may recommend that such a case be given special consideration.
This represents a very small percentage of the total number of applications
and shows that such a recommendation is made only in cases of
exceptional hardship.

It will be seen from the statistics that the recommendations made for
"Medical Points" during 1968 continue to rise over the 1967 figures.
Obviously if all applications with medical support were allowed to
qualify for extra "points" or other preferential treatment, many applicants
could put forward some conditions, physical or psychological, which