View report page

7
Towards the end of the year it was decided to make use of the
Public Health Laboratory Services in connection with the bacteriological
examination and grading of milks, ice-cream, water and other
specimens of a public health nature; but Seamen's Hospital
Laboratory continues to serve the requirements of General Practitioners.
These new arrangements aie working smoothly.
Under Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, preparations
have been made for the Borough Council to make a contribution
of £200 per annum to the British Red Cross Society towards the
cost of supplying hot midday meals to old people who, by reason of
infirmity or illness, would benefit from a regular midday meal.
The meals are collected by the Red Cross van from the Londoners'
Meals Service and are subsidised by the London County Council to
the extent of 4d. per meal and are delivered to the homes of the old
people at a cost to them of 8d.
Although there is no provision in the Act, I hope that in the
future the Red Cross may be able to extend their activities to include
bedridden invalids of all ages, e.g., tuberculous patients. Whether
this would be a function of the Local Health Authority or the Borough
Council would have to be agreed.
While on the subject of old people, it should be remembered
that they, as an age group, have been least well provided for under
the new Health Act. The Sanitary Inspectors, and particularly
the Lady Sanitary Inspector, are constantly bringing to my notice
old people living in insanitary conditions, suffering from infirmity
or illness, with no relative willing or able to help them.
Institutions are full and there are long waiting lists for beds at
St. Alfege's Hospital. Nevertheless, we supply to the Superintendent
of that hospital reports on the domestic circumstances of the old
people on the waiting list and every effort is made to find a bed for
those whose home conditions and circumstances are most pitiable.
I consider the association between St. Alfege's Hospital and this
Department to be most useful and I appreciate the reliance which
Dr. Young, the Physician Superintendent, places on our reports.
Powers under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948,
have, fortunately, not been required. This section deals with the
compulsory removal from their homes of aged and infirm persons
unable to care for themselves by reason of grave chronic illness or
other cause, and living in insanitary conditions. It is our experience
that most old people are only too willing to be removed to a place
where they can be nursed and cared for.
Work associated with the old people, of course, is intimately