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removal to hospital, or institution, of an aged, infirm, or physically
incapacitated, person who is living in insanitary conditions and is
"una ble to devote to himself, and is not receiving from other persons
proper care and attention."
Under the provisions of the National Assistance (Amendment)
Act. 1951, a magistrate may also order the emergency removal of such
persons to a hospital or institution for a period not exceeding twenty
one days, on certification by the Medical Officer of Health and a
general medical practitioner.
Fortunately, it is only in exceptional cases that compulsory
action is taken and then when all persuasive efforts have been fruitless
and it is found to be essential in a patient's own interests.
During the year under report the Council made application for
committal orders in respect of three old persons who could not care
for themselves adequately and who had refused hospital treatment
although this was considered by their private doctors to be needed.
Details are given below.
The Misses E. & R. G., aged 72 and 80, had been visited regularly
since May 1957 and latterly a marked deterioration in their
health and living conditions had been observed. They became
unco-operative and refused the offers of assistance made to them.
Their case was discussed with their private doctor and he agreed
that they were in need of proper care and attention. In view of their
refusal to accept hospital treatment or to enter a home for the elderly
it was considered there was no alternative but to apply for committal
orders. When the orders were being effected, Miss E. G. was found
lying helpless at the foot of the stairs, having suffered a leg injury,
and on her admission to hospital it was found that she had sustained
a fractured neck of the femur. Her sister, who did not need hospital
treatment, was admitted to a home for the elderly for the statutory
twenty-one days, and at the expiry of this period she agreed to reside
there permanently.
Miss M. J. H., age 75, occupied basement rooms in a house due
for demolition. She had been visited on several occasions by the
Public Health Assistant but had refused all welfare services. In view
of her obvious poor state of health her private doctor was asked to
see her and he agreed that she needed hospital treatment; this, however,
she refused to have. Her doctor was consulted again, following
a second visit when he found that her condition had deteriorated
considerably, and it was considered that compulsory action was the
only course to be taken. Subsequently, she agreed to enter hospital
for treatment, but changed her mind on the arrival of the ambulance.
Application was therefore made for a committal order and the patient
was admitted to hospital where her condition proved to be such that
she died the following morning.
During the course of the year, four old people agreed voluntarily
to be admitted to hospital or homes for the elderly, and the
necessary arrangements were made.