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91
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948, SECTION 47.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951.
In previous Annual Reports I have commented on the painful
duty to use the powers given to Medical Officers of Health under
this legislation. With the counter-signature of another
registered medical practitioner he may recommend his local
authority to apply for the compulsory removal of a resident of
the area to an appropriate place, if the said person is "suffering
from grave chronic disease or being aged, infirm and physically
incapacitated, is living in insanitary conditions and is
unable to devote to himself, and is not receiving from other
persons, proper care and attention."
Liberty may be the last cherished possession against which
the elderly do not rate very high the risk of death. It is the
fears and feelings of neighbours or other residents living in
the same house, which demand action.
During the year under review, 25 cases were reported from
numerous sources, including family doctors, welfare officers of
the Corporation, the National Assistance Board and voluntary
organisations, neighbours, relatives, health visitors, home helps
and the Police. The age range was 67 to 91 years. There were
6 males and 19 females.

The case admitted under Order was an elderly and infirm lady
of 82 years of age, who did not fully recover from an attack of
acute bronchitis. Following admission to hospital, she improved
for a time but finally died a few months later.