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62
" The following provisions of this section shall have effect for the plirpose
of securing the necessary care and attention for persons who—
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease or, being aged, infirm or physically
incapacitated, are living in insanitary conditions, and
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, ai\d are not receiving from other
persons, proper care and attention.
.... the court may, if satisfied on oral evidence of the allegations in the
certificate, and that it is expedient so to do, order the removal of the person to
whom the application relates, by such officer of the appropriate authority as may
be specified in the order, to a suitable hospital, or other place in or within
convenient distance of, the area of the appropriate authority, and his detention
and maintenance therein :
Provided that the court shall not order the removal of a person to any premises,
unless either the person managing the premises has been heard in the proceedings
or seven clear days' notice has been given to him of the intended application
and of the time and place at which it is proposed to be made."
In 11 instances it was necessary to invoke the procedure for the removal of
persons to suitable premises without delay, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951.
"An order under subsection (3) of section forty-seven of the National
Assistance Act, 1948, for the removal of any such person as is mentioned in
subsection (1) of that section may be made without the notice required by
sub-section (7) of that section if it is certified by the medical officer of health
and another registered medical practitioner that in their opinion it is necessary
in the interests of that person to remove him without delay."
A Magistrate's Order made earlier in the year under the principal Act, was
extended, under Section 47(4), for the further detention and maintenance of an
aged person in a Welfare Home for a period not exceeding three months.
" (4) An order under the last foregoing subsection may be made so as to
authorise a person's detention for any period not exceeding three months,
and the court may from time to time by order extend that period for
such further period not exceeding three months, as the court may
determine."
Details of the statutory action taken under these Acts are given in the following
statement which has been compiled in the form required by the Ministry of
Health :—