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Hitherto the Council have had no property of their own which
could have been utilised for this particular purpose. However,
during the latter half of the year, the Council, after seriously considering
the purchase of a sea-sids property enabling accommodation
to be available throughout the year for the elderly, finally
agreed in principle that this was a desirable object and arrangements
were made for suitable properties to be viewed by a subcommittee.
At the end of the current year the final selection of
the sub-committee was the subject of a draft agreement.
National Assistance Act, 1948.—Section 47 of this Act enables
the Medical Officer of Health compulsorily to remove to hospital or
institution any aged or infirm persons unable, adequately to care
for themselves.
Where delay of even a few hours may prove decisive the
Medical Officer of Health, in accordance with the National
Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, is empowered to arrange for
the removal of urgent cases without the necessity of giving 7 days
notice. Orders for removal can be made by a Court of Summary
Jurisdiction or a single Justice on an application certified by the
Medical Officer of Health and another registered general medical
practitioner and where agreement to receive such patients has been
reached with the hospital or institution authorities. If necessary
the court or justice may act ex parte. Orders so made under the
Amendment Act are limited to a period not exceeding 3 weeks and
applications for extensions of this period must be made in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Section 47.
During the year no cases occurred where the provisions of the
National Assistance Act for compulsory removal had to be enforced.
Experience shows that friendly persuasion is the best
method especially if the situation is explained carefully to old
people that the Health Department is here only to serve their best
interests.
Cleansing of Old People.—Section 43 of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1953, provides for the cleansing of
any aged person in the district who :
(a) is verminous or for any other reason in need of cleansing
in order to prevent injury or the danger of injury to
health ; and
(b) is so enfeebled that he is unable to avail himself of any
facilities for cleansing himself provided by the authority
under any enactment or to cleanse himself properly.