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12.
COMPULSORY REMOVAL OF AGED AND INFIRM PERSONS.
Under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the Council are
empowered to apply to the Court for an Order for the removal to hospital or
other institution of a person who is aged, infirm or physically incapacitated,
and who is living in insanitary conditions and "unable to devote to himself,
and is not receiving from other persons proper care and attention".
In addition, during 1951, the National Assistance (Amendment) Act came
into force. Under this Act, on certification by the Medical Officer of Health
and other practitioner, emergency removals of such people for periods not
exceeding three weeks may be enforced by the Courts. Powers under these Acts
were used on two occasions during the year.
A man aged 67, living alone in filthy conditions was unable to care for
himself and refused to be helped by anyone. After difficulty a doctor managed
to see him and found he was suffering from a grave chronic disease. An Order
was obtained under the Amendment Act for his immediate removal to St. Matthews
Hospital. There his health improved and after a few months he was transferred
to an L.C.C. Old People's Home.
The other patient, a woman aged 67, who was suffering from a chronic
disease was incapable of caring for herself and yet refused assistance from
other persons. For her sake it was necessary to arrange for compulsory removal
and she was admitted to an L.C.C. Old People's Home.
These two represent the failures, but the vast majority of people were
amenable to persuasion and derived benefit.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD.
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the Borough
Council is responsible for arranging for the burial or cremation of any person
who has died or been found dead in their area, and where no other suitable
arrangements for burial have been made or are being made. During the year onlyone
case occurred where the Council had to arrange for burial.
The Council have not yet carried out any cremations, as although it may
appear at the time of death that there are no surviving relatives, there is
always the remote possibility that at some future date, one may come forward
and start enquiries which might result in the Council's action being disputed
.
III - INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
During the year only 233 notifications of infectious disease were received
and over 50% of these were in respect of measles.
SMALLPOX AND VACCINATION.
No case of smallpox occurred in the Borough during the year and no
vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of Health under the Public
Health (Smallpx Prevention) Regulations, 1917, though many awkward questions
were answered, and many suspected cases were proved not to be instances of
that disease.