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18
SECTION B.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
FOR THE AREA.
These services are rendered by four distinct and separate
bodies:—
(1) The Council through its Public Health Department.
(2) Two Hospital Management Committees.
(3) Kent County Council under Part III of the National Health
Service Act, 1946.
(4) Voluntary Agencies.
1. Public Health services rendered by the Council.
The major services of the Department, to which detailed reference
is made later in this report, are as under:—
Atmospheric Pollution.
Enquiries into complaints and the abatement of nuisances.
Health Education and all matters covered by the general heading
of Sanitary and Environmental Services.
Housing.
Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Notification).
Inspection of Food and Food Premises.
Inspection and examination of Water and Milk supplies.
Inspection of Shops and Factories.
Rodent Control.
Refuse Collection and Disposal.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948.
Section 47.
This Section of the Act gives powers to the local authority to
apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for an order for the compulsory
removal of any person suffering from chronic disease, or who
is aged, infirm or physically incapacitated, and who is living in
insanitary conditions and unable to devote to himself and not receiving
from other persons proper care and attention, to a suitable hospital
or other place in, or within convenient distance of, the area of the
local authority, and for his detention and maintenance therein. Before
such application is made, however, the Medical Officer of Health must
be satisfied, after thorough enquiry, that in the interests of any such
person or for preventing injury to the health of, or serious nuisance
to, other persons it is necessary to remove that person.
Several possible cases were investigated during the year, but in
no instance was it necessary to apply to the court for an order for
compulsory removal.