View report page

13
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACTS, 1948 AND 1951.
No action was necessary during the year under these Acts with
regard to the removal to suitable premises of persons in need of
care and attention.
Such cases as were brought to the notice of the Health Department
were dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health in cooperation
either with the Medical Practitioners or Welfare Officer,
and the patients voluntarily agreed to go to Hospital or suitable
Institution. Most old people show a natural reluctance to leave
their homes, which sometimes consist of a single room in a dirty
and unhygienic state owing to their inability to look after the
premises. Some should not be living alone, and although we must
not be hasty to criticize, there appears to be in some cases a need
for the awakening of responsibility of the family to its aged members.
In some instances, where reluctance to leave their homes is
encountered, provision of Home Help and District Nurse Services
can be arranged and a careful watch on the situation maintained
by members of the Health Department Staff, and compulsory
removal in the interests of the old person is rarely enforced, as;
persuasion usually succeeds in the end.
AMBULANCE SERVICE
The County Ambulance Service is operated in two distinct
branches, i.e., the Accident Branch and the Sick Removal Branch.
The Accident Service operates from Fire Stations and where
an ambulance is required for accident or emergency purposes,
the Emergency Exchange telephone facilities should be used,
whereby calls are routed to the nearest Fire Station.
The Sick Removal Service is housed locally in a depot adjacent
to Chase Farm Hospital, where calls are received for both recumbent
and sitting cases.
WATER SUPPLY
The Borough is supplied with water by the Metropolitan Water
Board, except for part of the Hadley Wood and Cockfosters area,
which is supplied by the Barnet District Water Company.
Both of these Authorities take regular and frequent samples
for analysis. Copies of these reports are sent to the Health Department,
and have shown satisfactory results.
There was no cause to suspect any contamination during the
year.
There are three dwellings in Enfield which receive their water
supply other than from a public company; these are under constant
supervision.