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MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR LONG-STAY IMMIGRANTS
Arrangements to cover the special problems which arise in connection with the health
and treatment of long-stay immigrants to this country have been laid down by the Department
of Health and Social Security.
During the year 227 persons were notified to the Department and 169 successfully
visited. This not infrequently involved more than one visit. Some persons were not known at
the address given and other, despite repeated visits, had not been contacted by the end of
the year.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948, SECTION 47
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951
Under this section of the Act as amended by the National Assistance (Amendment)
Act, 1951, powers are given to the local authority for the compulsory removal of persons
suffering from grave chronic disease, or who are aged, infirm or physically handicapped and
who are living in insanitary conditions and unable to devote to themselves and not receiving
from other persons proper care and attention.
Although several cases were visited and investigated during the year it was not
found necessary in any instance to apply for a removal order as, with the assistance of other
interested bodies, it was possible to effect improvement in the conditions found to exist.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF
Staff who are eligible for admission to the Council's Superannuation Scheme are
required to complete a medical questionnaire. From the information given it is decided whether
the candidate can be regarded as fit, if necessary for a medical examination to be carried out
before a decision is made.
Other examinations are arranged following prolonged sick leave and in cases of
retirement on health grounds; candidates may also be examined at the request of the Chief
Officer to assess their fitness for employment.
In addition to these examinations of the Council's staff, a similar procedure is carried
out for the West Kent Sewerage Board and for the Stockwell Teachers' Training College.
A considerable number of medical examinations take place as a result of applications
by residents in the Borough for admission to Teacher Training Colleges, and also from the
requirements of the Department of Education and Science that teachers taking up their first
teaching appointment should be medically examined.
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The statistical details for this are given below:
Total number of Health Declaration forms received 1,386
Number of recommendations without medical examinations 1,185
Number of medical examinations carried out:
(a) For admission to Superannuation Scheme 201
(b) Training College candidates 454
(c) Teachers First Appointments 84
(d) Premature retirement in prolonged sick leave 15
(e) For other Authorities 10
(f) For West Kent Main Sewerage Board 27
(g) For Heavy Goods Vehicles Licences 89
880
Candidates examined for this Borough by other Authorities 8