View report page

(23)
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT. 19A8. Section 47.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951.
Compulsory removals under the above Acts were made in respect of
two old people, brief particulars of which are as follows:-
National Assistance Act. 19A8. Section 47:
An old lady of seventy-three who had been in hospital for thirteen
months for skin-graft treatment was, on discharge, found to be living
in a small top floor back room in very unsatisfactory and unhygienic
conditions. There was no proper lighting and the nearest sanitary accommodation
was on the ground floor. Complaints were received that
slops and excreta were being emptied from the window. Repeated visits
were made by this department but all help was refused, and as her
nearest known relatives, two daughters, were both living abroad, the
old lady was removed to a home where she could receive proper care and
attention.
National Assistance (Amendment) Act. 1951.
Notification was received by this Department of premises owned and
occupied by a sick old man who was alleged to live on his own. Several
attempts were made by this department to visit the old man in his home
but, these having failed, a warrant to enter the premises was obtained
from the Police Courts.
When discovered, the man was found to be in a very neglected condition
and was suffering from cancer of the eye. He refused all offers
of help from this department and, in his own interests, an application
was made and an order obtained for his detention and maintenance in
hospital under this Act,
SERVICE FOR INCONTINENT PERSONS
Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, enables a
sanitary authority, on a report from the Medical Officer of Health, to
cleanse or destroy any filthy or verminous articles within its district.
A scheme under the provisions of this Section to cleanse the linen
and bedding of aged and incontinent persons was commenced in March,
1952, and is proving of real benefit to sufferers. The work is carried
out at the Disinfecting Station and the replacement in November of the
obsolete laundry machinery by modern equipment is enabling the staff to
deal more quickly and efficiently with the increased volume of work.