Housing Medical Evidence Letter

GP Medical Practice 123 Health Lane Wellness City, WC1A 1AA 020 7123 4567 Date: 1 November 2024 To: Housing Allocations and Assessment Team Local Authority: City Council Address: Council Building, Civic Square, Wellness City, WC1A 2BB RE: MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING APPLICATION Patient Name: Mrs. Eleanor Vance Date of Birth: 15/03/1970 NHS Number: 123 456 7890 Current Address: Flat 4, Damp Apartments, Suffer Street, Wellness City, WC1A 3CC To Whom It May Concern, I am writing as the General Practitioner for the above-named patient to provide objective clinical information regarding their medical conditions, functional limitations, and to outline how their current living environment is actively impacting their health. Based on my clinical assessment, this patient's current housing configuration is unsuited to their medical needs and meets the criteria for prioritisation under your allocations policy on 'Medical Need - Severe'. 1. Clinical Diagnoses and Relevant History The patient has the following active, confirmed medical conditions: • Severe Osteoarthritis, bilateral knees (diagnosed 2018) • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (diagnosed 2010) • Generalised Anxiety Disorder (diagnosed 2020) 2. Current Functional and Mobility Limitations As a direct result of these conditions, the patient experiences the following objective functional restrictions: • Mobility: Significant pain and stiffness in both knees, making ascending/descending stairs extremely difficult and painful. Requires frequent rest breaks when walking short distances (less than 50 metres). • Respiratory: Frequent exacerbations of COPD, particularly in damp or cold environments, leading to breathlessness and increased risk of chest infections. Unable to carry out light household tasks without significant respiratory effort. • Mental Health: Anxiety symptoms are significantly heightened by feelings of being trapped and unsafe in her current accommodation, leading to panic attacks and social isolation. 3. Direct Impact of Current Accommodation on Clinical Health The patient's current housing configuration actively exacerbates their medical conditions and poses an ongoing risk to their safety in the following ways: • Stairs/Level Access: Flat is on the third floor with no lift access. This severely restricts Mrs. Vance's ability to leave her home, exacerbating her mobility issues and social isolation. • Damp/Mould/Cold: The property suffers from significant rising damp and pervasive mould growth in the living room and bedroom, directly worsening her COPD and increasing susceptibility to respiratory infections. • Safety/Overcrowding: The small, poorly ventilated space contributes to poor air quality, which is detrimental to her respiratory health. The unaddressed damp and mould also present a significant health hazard. 4. Clinical Recommendations for Future Housing Layout To mitigate these specific health risks and allow the patient to manage their medical conditions safely, any future accommodation must meet the following parameters: • Ground floor or property with reliable lift access. • Property must be free from damp, mould, and provide adequate heating and ventilation. • Accessible bathroom facilities (e.g., walk-in shower). • Located within reasonable proximity to essential services and public transport to support independence and reduce anxiety. Thank you for taking this clinical evidence into consideration during your assessment of this patient's housing priority band. Yours sincerely, Dr. Sarah Jenkins General Practitioner GP Medical Practice