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13
Surrey County Council - Children,s Department,
This Department deals with children taken into or
committed to the care of the County Council, supervision of
foster ehildren, adoption, child neglect, etc. The Children's
Officer for the Borough works from County Hall, Penrhyn Road,
Kingston-upon-Thames.
Surrey Executive Council,,
This body is responsible for the provision under the
National Health Service Act of the general practitioner, dental
(other than Local Health Authority provision for expectant and
nursing mothers, young children), pharmaceutical and supplementary
ophthalmic services. The headquarters of the Council
is at 187, Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey. Telephone-Elmbridge
5723.
3. National Assistance Act. 1948.
National Assistance (Amendment) Act. 1951.
Under Section 47 of the 1948 Act, a Local Authority
is empowered to apply to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, to
have removed to suitable premises, persons in need of care
and attention.
The 1951 Act enables local authorities to deal more
speedily with very urgent cases by initial removal, for a
period not exceeding three weeks.
It was not necessary to use these powers in respect
of any person resident within the Borough during 1955. The
problems associated with aged persons do not diminish, but
fewer geriatric cases came to the notice of the Public Health
Department during the year than in previous years. All
necessary help and advice was given in each individual case,
and everything done to improve the conditions found upon
inspection.
The close co-operation between the Physician
Superintendent of Kingston Hospital, the Welfare Officer.
local Doctors, and your Medical Officer of Health, mentioned
in my last report, continues.
The Superintendent of Kingston Hospital is assisted
by a Geriatrician to whom General Practitioners are able to
refer cases direct, where previously the intervention of the
Medical Officer of Health, Divisional Welfare Officer, and
etc., was sought. The present facilities for dealing with
geriatric eases are improved. The problems of the provision
of additional hospital beds, domiciliary help, an,d nursing
remain® Full co-ordination is attempted between the
Geriatrician and your Medical Officer of Health in his
capacity of Divisional Medical Officer for the North Central
Division of the Surrey County Council.