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42
International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation.
Arrangements continued during the year for the authentication
by the Medical Officer of Health of certificates of
vaccination and inoculation in the international form. These
certificates are required by passengers proceeding abroad from
this country and the purpose of the authentication is to provide
proof to health authorities abroad that the signature of the
person issuing the certificate is that of a registered medical
practitioner.
National Assistance Act, 1948.
Removal to Suitable Premises of Persons in Need of Care
and Attention.
Section 47 of the above Act provides that the Council shall
be responsible for the removal to suitable premises of persons
who are suffering from a grave chronic disease or being aged,
infirm or physically incapacitated, who are living in insanitary
conditions and who are unable to devote to themselves and are
not receiving from other persons proper care and attention.
The National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, which
became operative on the 1st September, 1951, filled an urgent
need by providing expeditious arrangements for the compulsory
removal of persons to hospitals or institutions as laid down by
section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
The amending Act obviates the need for giving seven days'
notice to the person and to the hospital board or welfare
authority. Application may also be made to a single Justice of
the Peace instead of to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction. An
application for an order must be certified by a general practitioner
as well as the Medical Officer of Health and the period of removal
is for three weeks.
During the year one case was dealt with under this new
procedure.
Sixty five other cases, mostly persons of advancing years
alleged to be living in insanitary conditions, were brought to the
notice of the Public Health Department during the year. In
none of these, however, was there justification for certifying that
application for an order for removal be made. It was possible,
however, to arrange the voluntary admission of seven cases to
hospital, one case was referred to the duly authorised officer of
the London County Council and two cases were referred to the
social welfare officer of the London County Council with a view
to admission to an institution. Four cases died before admission
to Hospital could be arranged.