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Maternity Homes
There are no maternity homes registered in the borough.
No private premises in the borough have been approved by the Secretary of
State for Health and Social Security under the Abortion Act, 1967, as places for
treatment for the termination of pregnancy.
CERTIFICATION OF BLINDNESS AND PARTIAL SIGHT
Arrangements for examination and certification on Form B.D.8 of applicants
for admission to the Register of the Blind or the Register of the Partially Sighted
maintained by local authorities under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act,
1948, are in accordance with the Council's approved scheme.
One hundred and four reports on Form B.D.8 were received in respect of cases
dealt with under the scheme for the registration of blind and partially sighted persons.
The Chief Welfare Officer arranges for social welfare officers to visit all registered
persons and follow up on the treatment and advice recommended by the ophthalmic
surgeons.
(See Statistical Table 28)
REMOVAL TO SUITABLE PREMISES OF PERSONS
IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION
Provision is made under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, as
amended by the National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, for securing the
necessary care and attention in a suitable hospital or other place (e.g. residential
accommodation provided under Part III of the Act) 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.
The sustained efforts of the social welfare officers of the health and welfare
departments are directed towards reducing to a minimum the likelihood of such
circumstances arising, and supportive home care provided by the two departments
usually enables the unfortunate persons to remain in their homes.
Despite these efforts, which are aided substantially by the health visitors and
home nurses, cases sometimes arise which cannot be dealt with in this way; and
where removal to suitable premises becomes imperative, persuasiveness generally
produces agreement to this course.
It is seldom necessary to invoke compulsory powers, but this proved unavoidable
in the case of one elderly man during the year under review.
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