London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Pancras 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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49
Aged Persons.
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, came into operation on the 5th July,
superseding Section 224 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and makes provision for
the purpose 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, and are not receiving from other persons,
proper care and attention.
During the six months ended 31st December, 1948, no cases were dealt with by the
department under this Section.
| Number of Blind Persons on register in 1948 | 75 |
| Removed to hospital during year (one after having had a home help for a time) | 2 |
| 73 | |
| Living with relatives 41 | |
| Living alone 32 | |
| — | 73 |
| Totally blind 18 | |
| Partially blind 55 | |
| — | 73 |
| Conditions satisfactory (apart from housing) 58 | |
| Fair 13 | |
| Unsatisfactory 2 | |
| — | 73 |
Notices were served on the landlord in 26 cases requiring work to be carried out,
including in two cases a water supply, and in two other cases water was provided in the blind
person's room by arrangement with the owner.
All the blind persons were visited once during the year.
The ages of the blind persons were as follows:—
| 80-89 | 14 |
| 70-79 | 22 |
| 60-69 | 14 |
| 50-59 | 9 |
| 40-49 | 6 |
| 30-39 | 3 |
| 20-29 | 2 |
| 19 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 |
| Not known | 1 |
| 73 |
A Home Help was provided in three cases.
(6594)