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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
and another registered medical practitioner. Further, where
the hospital or institution agree to receive the case, it
is not necessary to give seven days' notice to the manager
thereof.
Detention Orders made in respect of these urgent cases
are limited to three weeks, and if it is necessary to
extend this time, compliance must be made with the original
requirements of Section 47.
Although many cases were investigated during the year,
in only two cases was formal action taken to secure
compulsory removal.
The first case was an old lady, aged 83 years, living
alone in one room in North Kensington. She was unable to
devote to herself proper care and attention, and was living
in insanitary conditions, refusing all domiciliary service.
Every endeavour was made to persuade her to enter a hospital
voluntarily, but she refused to go. A Justice's Order was
obtained, and she was removed to St. Charles Hospital, where
she has settled down well.
The second case was also an old lady, aged 76 years, who
normally lived with her sister in a house in South Kensington.
At the beginning of November the sister was admitted to hospital
for an operation, and the old lady was unable to devote to
herself proper care and attention. Every endeavour was made
to persuade her to enter a home voluntarily, but she refused to
go. A Justice's Order was obtained and she was removed to
the Kings Mead Home, Chelsea. Subsequently, she was certified
under the Mental Deficiency Acts, and was removed to Banstead
Hospital.
SANITARY INSPECTION
The following table shows a summary of the inspections,
etc., carried out by the sanitary inspectors during the year:-