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National Assistance Act, 1948
Section 47.
Several cases of elderly persons who were unable to look
after themselves and were without proper care and attention were
brought to the notice of the department. In all cases the voluntary
agreement of the person was eventually obtained and removal
arranged through the County Welfare Department.
Section 50.
The only corpse to be buried under the provisions of this
section was that of a male, 60 years of age.
Laundry Service for the Incontinent Aged
This service, inaugurated in December 1953, and operated
under the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936, Section 84,
continues to meet a real need in the home at a time when help
is urgently required. Soiled articles are collected, and laundered
articles returned each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The
frequency of the collection and delivery is of the utmost importance
as the resources of the home in respect of bedding, clothes,
etc., are inevitably stretched to capacity.
The service has worked well; there has been little, if any,
abuse and the co-operation of the laundry staff at the Barking
Hospital, especially at holiday periods, has been excellent.
From the commencement of the service to the end of the year
covered by this report 70 cases have received assistance. During
this year 27 cases have died, 12 have been removed to hospital
or no longer require the services and seven were still participating
at the end of the year. The number of articles laundered during
the year was 7,473.
Atmospheric Pollution
Systematic observations continue to be made of the chimneys
of industrial premises in the Borough. In no case was statutory
action necessary.
For many years the Council have maintained an observation
station in the vicinity of Valence House for the measurement of
Atmospheric Pollution. At the Civic Centre, measurements are
made of the daily average concentration of smoke, suspended
impurity and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.
With the assistance of the Meteorological Office, Fuel Research
Station, and the National Smoke Abatement Society an exhibition
dealing with atmospheric pollution was arranged at the Dagenham
Town Show held for two days in August. The exhibition proved
to be of great interest and, we trust, profit to many people.
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