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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following is a summary of the work carried out by the Council's women health officers in connection with the care of old people during the year 1964:-
| Cases on register at the beginning of year | 5,286 |
| New cases added to register | 528 |
| Cases removed to hospital | 26 |
| Cases removed to homes (voluntarily) | 18 |
| Cases removed to homes (compulsorily) | Nil |
| Cases removed from district | 68 |
| Number of deaths | 291 |
| Total number of cases remaining on register at end of year | 5,411 |
| Number of old people sent away for holiday | 116 |
| Number of old people provided with Council's laundry service | 78 |
| Number of old people provided with "meals-on-wheels" | 216 |
| Cases referred to National Assistance Board | 59 |
| Cases referred for assistance from Home Help Department | 141 |
| Cases referred for assistance from voluntary organisations | 89 |
| Cases referred to recreational clubs | 235 |
| Number of visits to chronic sick cases | 745 |
| Cases assisted with provision of medical and nursing care | 44 |
| Cases where disinfestation was carried out | 10 |
| Cases referred to home chiropody service | 291 |
| Number of initial home visits made | 584 |
| Number of re-visits | 2,090 |
| Number of other visits made in connection with old people, including visits to clubs | 116 |
| Number of interviews, enquiries, etc., on behalf of old people | 2,930 |
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.