London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1962

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough.

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Cases referred for assistance from Home Help187
Department
Cases referred for assistance from voluntary organisations115
Cases referred to recreational Clubs130
Number of visits to chronic sick cases711
Cases assisted with provision of medical and nursing care62
Cases referred to home chiropody service100
Cases where disinfestation was carried out13
Number of initial home visits made471
Number of re-visits3,189
Number of other visits made in connection with old people, including visits to clubs69
Number of interviews, enquiries, etc. on behalf of old people2,675

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 no case was formal action taken to secure
compulsory removal to an institution.