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SECTION 47, NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT 1948
It is occasionally necessary, when a serious degree of senile change is reached, to compel a person
to enter a home or a hospital. Such a removal is only possible if the individual is infirm or suffering
from grave chronic disease, and is not able to give himself sufficient care, nor is receiving it from others,
and it is in his own interest or for the protection of others. Since this involves taking away the liberty
of the subject, the Department is reluctant to take action except in the worst circumstances. Everything
possible is done to improvehis domestic arrangements, and if this should prove insufficient for his needs,
attempts are made to persuade him to change his mind.
In spite of the numerous cases in which the extreme measure of compulsory removal to hospitals or
welfare accommodation had to be considered, it was only necessary to apply Section 47 in one instance,
the case of aparalysed woman who refused to enter hospital in spite of her rapidly deteriorating condition.
She was compulsorily removed to a hospital where she improved sufficiently to be transferred to a welfare
home some months afterwards.
TUBERCULOSIS - REHABILITATION
The need of patients suffering from tuberculosis is met in three ways:-
(a) Full-time training provided by the Ministry of Labour at their training centres;
(b) By the admission of selected patients to colonies such as Preston Hall.
There was only one patient maintained by this Council during 1965;
(c) By providing training and subsequent employment under sheltered conditions at the Council's own
Workshops, (Tottenham Rehabilitation Workshops, adjoining The Lido, Lordship Lane, N.17.).
At the end of the year 35 journeyman cabinet makers and three supervisory staff were employed.
The total capacity at the Workshop is for 52 journeyman cabinet makers and I am at present in
consultation with the Chest Physicians of the various clinics which serve this Borough with a
view to widening the scope of persons acceptable, as the decline in the number of tuberculous
patients being recommended by the chest clinics for sheltered employment should free facilities
for sufferers from other forms of chest complaints such as chronic bronchitis.
Provision of Extra Nourishment to Tuberculous Patients
On the recommendation of the chest physicians the local authority provides in suitable cases extra
nourishment in the form of high protein foods such as milk, dairy produce and eggs for persons of low income
suffering from tuberculosis. During the year there were four patients receiving this extra nourishment.
NURSING HOMES
There were six private nursing homes registered with the former Middlesex County Council which
were passed over to this Borough on the 1st April 1965. During the period under review one of these
nursing homes has closed down. An application was received for the opening of a nursing home, but
following discussion, the applicant withdrew his application. Listed below are the names of the nursing