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Standing Joint Committee who agreed that it was desirable for
extended powers to be given to metropolitan borough councils
to provide for the cleansing of persons in such a filthy, dirty
or unwholesome condition that their health is affected or
endangered, subject to the person's consent being obtained.
The London County Council were approached and agreed to
promote legislation to this effect. On 31st July, 1953, Royal
Assent was given to the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1953, Section 43 of which provides that -
1. Where it appears to a sanitary authority upon
a report from the medical officer of health or
a sanitary inspector for their district that
any aged person within their district -
(a) is verminous or is for any other reason
in need of cleansing in order to prevent
injury or the danger of injury to health;
and
(b) is so enfeebled that he is unable to avail
himself of any facilities for cleansing
himself provided by the authority under
any enactment or to cleanse himself properly;
the authority may on the application or with the
consent of that person (but not otherwise) cause
him to be cleansed free of charge at the place
where he resides or at any other suitable place.
2. A sanitary authority may make all such arrangements
and provide all such apparatus and things
as may be necessary for the convenient exercise
of the powers conferred by the foregoing sub-section.
3. This section shall be read and construed as one
with Part III of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
The Council authorised the Medical Officer of Health to
arrange for the cleansing, including bathing in their own
homes, of old people. In cases where the absence of bathing
apparatus and other household amenities present difficulties,
a specially adapted vehicle is used to convey the old people to
the Council's personal cleansing station, where in addition to
bathing, the clothing can be disinfested where necessary. During
the year twenty-eight old people were cleansed.
Institutional Care, etc.
Facilities for institutional care, hospital treatment,
medical care, nursing care, ophthalmic, dental and
pharmaceutical services, sick room equipment, convalescent
holidays, financial aid and pensions are dealt with by the
responsible official organisations. These and the various
services provided by the Council are in many instances made
available to old people through the intervention of the Women
Health Officers, who act as liaison officers in these respects.
During the year it was possible to arrange for sixty old
people to be admitted to hospitals for institutional treatment
and, in addition, twenty-six cases were admitted to homes for
the aged.
Laundry
At present no direct authority exists for the Council to