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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (Amendment) ACT, 1951.
SECTION 47. The Council has authority under this section of the Act
to apply to a Court for an Order for the removal to hospital, or other
institution, of an aged, infirm or physically incapacitated person whose
living conditions are insanitary and who is "unable to devote to himself,
and is not receiving from other persons, proper care and attention."
On certification by the Medical Officer of Health and a general practitioner,
the National Assistance (Amendment) Act 1951 also empowers a
magistrate to order the emergency removal of such persons to an institution
for periods not exceeding three weeks.
In no case during the year was it necessary to make use of the
Council's powers under the Act; 3 patients considered to be in need
of mental treatment, however, were referred to the duly authorised
officer appointed by the London County Council and 15 persons wer e
persuaded, in their own interests, to enter institutions voluntarily.
Two old persons were also temporarily accommodated in institutions
whilst their homes were cleansed and fumigated.
SECTION 50. Under the provisions of Section 50 of the Act it is the
Borough Council's duty to arrange for the burial or cremation of a
person dying in the Borough where it is impossible to trace relatives or
friends who would be prepared to make funeral arrangements. In
such cases the costs incurred by the Council, inclusive of administrative
expenses, may be reimbursed from the estate of the deceased.
During 1956, the bodies of 2 female and 4 male persons were
removed to the mortuary after having been recovered from the River
Thames which bounds the Borough on its north side, and all these were
identified by relatives. In one case the deceased's brother requested
the Council to arrange for burial subject to his meeting all expenses
incurred and in one further case the Council considered it necessary to
write off the cost of removing the body to the mortuary in order to
avoid possible hardship to the deceased person's widow who was reported
by the Coroner's Officer to be in somewhat straitened circumstances.
The cases to which reference is made below were also dealt with
under the provisions of Section 50.
1. Following a request for assistance by a home-help the Council
arranged for the funeral of Mr. J. W. D. whose wife, aged 74,
was in a very poor state of health and it was impossible for her
to make the necessary arrangements. Subsequently, Mrs. D.
authorised the Council to dispose of the household effects
and she agreed voluntarily to enter a London County Council
institution. Funeral expenses were met from the estate.
2. At the request of the Coroner's Officer, arrangements were
made for the interment of Mr. J. K. who died in a common
lodging house in the Borough on 1st May, 1956, the sum of