London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Cases on register at the beginning of year 5,176
| New cases added to register | 582 |
| Cases removed to hospitals | 175 |
| Cases removed to homes (voluntarily) | 99 |
| Cases removed to homes (compulsorily) | 4 |
| Cases removed from district | 174 |
| Number of deaths | 298 |
| Total number of cases remaining on register at end of year | 5,008 |
| Number of old people sent away for holiday | 60 |
| Number of old people provided with Council's laundry service | 59 |
| Number of old people provided with "Meals on Wheels" | 225 |
| Cases referred to National Assistance Board | 188 |
| Cases referred for assistance from Home Help Department | 206 |
| Cases referred for assistance from Voluntary Organisations | 68 |
| Cases referred to Recreational Clubs | 216 |
| Number of visits to chronic sick cases | 607 |
| Cases assisted with provision of medical and nursing care | 229 |
| Cases referred to home chiropody service | 168 |
| Cases where disinfestation was carried out | 20 |
| Number of initial home visits made | 503 |
| Number of re-visits | 4,043 |
| Number of other visits made in connection with old people, including visits to clubs | 122 |
| Number of interviews, enquiries, etc. on behalf of old people | 1,847 |
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, 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
four cases was formal action taken to secure compulsory removal.
Brief details of these four cases are as follows :-
(a) An old lady, aged 89 years, without relations or