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33
National Assistance Act, 1948
Burial of the Dead
Under Section 50 of the above Act it is the duty of the Council to
arrange for the burial or cremation of any person who dies or is found
dead within the Borough, and where no private arrangements are made
for the disposal of the remains.
Fifteen persons were buried under the provisions of this Act during 1952.
Removal of Aged and Infirm Persons to Institutions
Section 47 of this Act provides for securing the necessary care and
attention for the aged and chronic sick by means of an order of the Court.
The main difficulty in securing the necessary care is in obtaining a vacancy
in a suitable institution. The hospital provides accommodation for the
chronic sick but there is a waiting list and admission may be delayed for
weeks or in some few cases, months. The turn-over of beds is naturally
very much slower than with acute cases and vacancies are consequently
comparatively infrequent. The hospitals require to be assured that the
patient is in need of a hospital bed, either on the grounds that medical
treatment is required which cannot be given at home, or that the patient
is bedridden and requires nursing care as a result.
The London County Council provides accommodation for persons
who are unable properly to care for themselves but who are not in need
of nursing care, and who can get up and wash and dress themselves.
There is at present a lack of provision for those persons who by reason of
age or chronic ill-health require a certain amount of nursing care, who
may be unable to wash and dress themselves or to walk without difficulty,
but who are not bedridden. They are too well for the hospital and too ill
for the County Council's Homes.
In spite of the difficulties, both the Hospitals and the County Council
have been very helpful in dealing with the many difficult and distressing
cases.
Action under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act was contemplated
in several cases during 1951, but it was not found necessary to
take action to remove any person.
Services for Old People
The voluntary services in the district provide some assistance and
recreation for old people. The W.V.S. have organised five Darby and
Joan Clubs in various parts of the Borough so that one or more is within
reasonable reach of persons living in any part of the district. In addition,
the Albany Institute Old People's Club, although situated just beyond the
Borough boundary, is patronised mainly by Deptford people.
A Meals-on-Wheels service operates in the Borough. This supplies
meals to aged and infirm people in their homes twice a week, to five of the
Darby and Joan Clubs once a week, and to the Albany Institute daily from
Monday to Friday. The meals are obtained from the London County
Council's meals service and supplied to the old people at a charge of l0d.
each. The vehicle was supplied and fitted by the Borough Council,