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36
Cases referred to Recreational Clubs 165
Number of visits to chronic sick cases 668
Cases assisted with provision of medical
and nursing care 85
Cases referred to home chiropody service 154
Cases where disinfestation was carried out 3
Number of initial home visits made 508
Number of re-visits 3,392
Number of other visits made in connection with
old people, including visits to clubs 102
Number of interviews, enquiries, etc. on behalf
of old people 2,105
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 of old people were investigated during
the year, in only one case was formal action taken to secure
compulsory removal to an institution.
This case was a woman, aged 77 years, living alone in insanitary
conditions in one room. She was gravely ill and unable
to devote to herself proper care and attention. She persistently
refused all endeavours to persuade her to enter a hospital to undergo
proper medical treatment.
A Justice's Order was, therefore, obtained and she was removed
to St. Charles Hospital, where she still refused treatment and died
shortly after admission.
THE GENERAL DRAINAGE AND SEVER SYSTEM
The drainage system in the Metropolitan Boroughs is a
combined one whereby surface water and foul water both enter the same
sewers. In most cases houses are connected direct to borough council
sewers, and these in turn discharge into the London County Council
main sewers. In a few cases, where local sewers do not exist, house
connections are taken direct into the main sewers.