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36
Burial of Deceased Persons.
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, which came
into operation on the 5th July, 1948, the duty of arranging for the
burial or cremation of the body of any person dying or being found
dead in the Borough, for the disposal of whose body no other suitable
arrangements have been made, was transferred to the Council. They
are given power to recover from the estate of the deceased, or from
any person who, under the Act, was liable to maintain the deceased
immediately prior to his death, their expenses incurred in carrying out
the duty, in so far as these expenses are not covered by any grant made
under Section 22 (5) of the National Insurance Act, 1946.
Between the 5th July and the end of the year, 38 cases were dealt
with. The majority were of persons dying in the local hospitals, as the
following table shows:—
Died in St. James's Hospital 20
„ „ St. John's Hospital 13
„ at home 4
Found drowned in river 1
38
Only 10 of these persons were residents of Battersea.
The burials were carried out by a local undertaker under contract
with the Council, and not more than one coach is provided for relatives
who wish to attend the funeral.
The Health Department make arrangements with the undertaker,
and collect all available information regarding any estate left by the
deceased and the existence of any liable relatives. This information is
passed to the Borough Treasurer so that he may take any steps necessary
to recover the cost.
The total cost incurred in dealing with the 38 cases was
£237 12s. 7d., of which £68 9s. 4d. had been recovered by the end of
the year.
Aged and Infirm Persons.
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, which came into
operation on the 5th July, 1948, repealed, and re-enacted, with certain
modifications, Section 224 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
which had previously provided power to apply to the Court for an
Order for the removal to a suitable hospital or other place of any person
who is aged or infirm or suffering from some grave chronic disease,
and is living under insanitary conditions. The principal modifications
are:—
(1) There is now no need to obtain a second medical report.
(2) The application for the Order has to be made to the Court
by the Council, and not, as formerly, by the Medical Officer
of Health.
(3) Seven days' notice (in lieu of three days as previously) has to
be given to the person concerned and to the hospital, etc.,
authorities.
One such case was dealt with during the year.