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Visiting
The Council's Women Health Officers visit old people
brought to their notice. A comprehensive record system is
kept of old people in the borough including personal particulars,
environmental conditions and special needs. The local voluntary
organisations supply records of old people whom they help and
every endeavour is made to keep this information up to date.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the
Council's Women Health Officers in connection with the care
of old people during the year 1954:-
Cases on register at the beginning of year 5,017
New cases added to register 687
Cases removed to hospitals 135
Cases removed to homes (voluntarily) 53
Cases removed to homes (compulsorily) 2
Cases removed from district 125
Number of deaths 289
Total number of cases remaining on register at
end of year 5,100
Number of old people sent away for holiday 62
Number of old people provided with Council's
laundry service 90
Number of old people provided with "Meals on
Wheels" 367
Cases referred to National Assistance Board 187
Cases referred for assistance from Home Help
Department 186
Cases referred for assistance from Voluntary
Organisations 112
Cases referred to Recreational Clubs 179
Cases assisted with provision of medical and
nursing care 118
Cases referred to home chiropody service 235
Cases cleansed at Medicinal Baths 23
Cases where disinfestation was carried out 45
Number of initial home visits made 2,292
Number of re-visits 2,598
Number of other visits made in connection with
old people, including visits to clubs 155
Number of interviews, enquiries, etc. on
behalf of old people 1,852
Removal of old and infirm persons to institutions etc.
Under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the
Council may apply to a Court for an order to remove to a
suitable institution any person who -
(a) is suffering from grave chronic disease, or
being aged, infirm or physically incapacitated,
is living in insanitary conditions, and
(b) is unable to devote to himself, or is not
receiving from other persons, proper care
and attention.
The National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, which
came into operation on 1st September, 1951, amended Section
47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and provided that
application for removal of urgent cases may be made by the
local authority or by the Medical Officer of Health, if
authorised by the Council to do so, without giving seven days'
notice as previously required. Such applications may be
made either to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction or to a single
Justice, on a certificate by the Medical Officer of Health