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extremely insanitary conditions. He was gravely ill
and in need of medical and nursing care. Every
effort was made to persuade him to enter hospital,
but he refused. Application was made to a Justice
of the Peace who granted an Order for the man's
compulsory removal to hospital. The Order was
enforced but unfortunately the man died on
admission.
Emergency admissions to Hospitals
On 11th February, 1958, the Public Health Committee reported
to the Council on the difficulties experienced in securing admission to
hospitals of sick and aged persons compulsorily removed under the
provisions of Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 194S, as amended
by the National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951. The Council decided to
ask the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to make
representations to the Ministry of Health for the establishment of a
standardised and efficient procedure whereby these people could be admitted
to hospital without difficulty or delay.
The Standing Joint Committee had discussions with the North-West
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and, as a result, the following
arrangements have been made, which it is hoped will solve the problem
(i) In every instance, a Medical Officer of Health
contemplating action under the National Assistance
(Amendment) Act, 1951, should first make contact
with the geriatrician or his representative at
the hospital serving his area and endeavour to
secure his agreement to admit the case.
(ii) In the event of the above proving unsuccessful,
contact should be made with the Emergency Bed
Service, at which the Medical Officer on duty
would accept such a case as one to be admitted
under the medical referee procedure.
(iii) The above arrangements will continue until
September, 1959, and then be subject to review.
SANITAHY INSPECTION
The following table shows a summary of the inspections, etc.
carried out by the public health inspectors during the year s-