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42
National Assistance Act, 1948.
National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951.
Removal to Hospital of Persons in Need of Care and Attention.
Under the provisions of the above Acts, application may be
made to a Court of summary jurisdiction for an Order for the
compulsory removal to hospital of persons in need of proper care
and attention.
Of the cases referred to the Department for examination during
the year, only in the following two instances was it necessary to
take action under the above Acts.
Miss S. first came to the attention of the Department in 1951,
then aged 69. An extremely independent old lady, she had had
an operation for cataract, and suffered from pernicious anaemia.
The maximum help was made available: home-helps, meals service,
National Assistance. However, as result of her old age, medical
condition and blindness, by 1960 there was a marked deterioration.
She was found to be living amidst dirt and rubbish, sleeping on a
bare mattress, not eating dinners provided, and confused in mind.
She had refused to go into a home. An Order for removal to a
London County Council home was obtained for a period of three
weeks, but it has since been found necessary to apply for three
extensions, each of three months.
Mrs. B. first came to the attention of the Department in 1954,
then aged 87 years, and was found to be weak and suffering from
a substantial degree of senility. She was opposed to any medical
assistance and had no doctor. The Old People's Welfare Visitor
called daily, and the services of the District Nurses, the Home Help
(twice daily) and Mobile Meals were made available. However,
by 1960 and at the age of 94 her condition had deteriorated until
she was completely bedridden. An Order for removal to Hospital
for a period of three weeks was obtained, but it was necessary to
apply for a three months extension. Before this expired, it was
learned that the lady had died.
In all other cases it was found possible to find a solution in
other ways: either by co-operation with the family doctor or by
making use of available services.
National Assistance Act, 1948.
Burial or Cremation of the Dead.
During the year thirteen burials were carried out by the Council
under Section 50 of the above Act.
Hammersmith Old People's Welfare Association.
This Association was formed in 1950, with the object of promoting the general welfare of all old people in the Borough. Its
work is financed almost entirely by grant from the Borough Council
under the National Assistance Act, 1948.