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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACTS. 1948/l962.
(a) National Assistance Act, 1948 - Section 47, and National Assistance
(Amendment) Act, 1951 - Section 1.
Removal to Hospital and/or Institution of Persons in Need of Care
and Attention.
During the year action was only necessary in one instance under
the provisions of the above Acts for the compulsory removal of aged
and infirm persons in need of proper care and attention. The case in
question concerned an old lady aged 88 years who was living alone in
insanitary conditions and was suffering from the effects of self-neglect
and malnutrition.
(b) National Assistance Act. 1948 - Section 21.
Provision of "Part III" Accommodation.
It is the duty of a local authority, subject to and in accordance
with the provisions of Section 21 of the Act, to provide residential
accommodation for persons needing care and attention, and temporary
accommodation for persons who are in urgent need thereof.
The London County Council is, in this particular respect, "the
local authority", and such accommodation is provided at "King's Mead",
Dovehouse Street. During the year it was considered necessary to
arrange for the reception of nineteen persons in such accommodation and
all but three of these admissions were made at "King's Mead".
(c) National Assistance Act. 1948 - Section 31 and National Assistance
Act. 1948 (Amendment) Act, 1962.
Provision of Meals and Recreation for Old People.
The National Assistance Act, 1948 (Amendment) Act, 1962, received
Royal Assent on 24th May, and it substitutes a new section for Section
31 of the 1948 Act which extends the previous powers of local authorities
so as to enable them:-
(a) to assist voluntary organisations to provide meals or
recreation for old people by making contributions to the cost of the
service; to provide, by gift or loan or otherwise, furniture, vehicles
or equipment; to permit the use of premises belonging to the local
authority; to make available the services of local authority staff
connected with the premises or vehicles which the organisation is
permitted to use;
(b) to provide meals and recreation for old people, either
directly or through the agency of voluntary organisations, and to
recover such charges (if any) as the authority may determine, having
regard to the cost of the service.