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(16) National Assistance Act, 1948.—(a) Section 47 provides for
the removal of persons to hospital who are unable to devote
to themselves proper care and attention. If difficulty is experienced
in persuading a stubborn and recalcitrant patient to
go into hospital it is possible, after the Medical Officer of
Health certifies in writing and the local authority agrees, to
take the case before the Court; and the Magistrate if persuaded
of the necessity of the application, may issue an
order for the person to be removed to a suitable hospital.
It is essential for this Section to be invoked that (a) the
person must be suffering from grave chronic disease or, being
aged, infirm or physically incapacitated, is living in insanitary
conditions, and (b) is unable to devote to himself, and is not
receiving from other persons, proper care and attention.
No persons were dealt with under this Act during the year,
(b) Section 50 requires a Local Authority to arrange for the
burial or cremation of a person who has died or been found
dead, and where it appears to the Local Authority no suitable
arrangements are being made for the disposal of the body.
Provision is made in the Act for recovery from the estate of the
deceased person, or any person who for the purposes of this Act was liable
to maintain the deceased immediately before his death, of the whole or
part of the expenses incurred.
On the 1st March, 1949, the Ministry of Health issued a circular
(No. 13/49), dealing more particularly with persons dying in hospital. The
circular asks Hospital Committees and Boards to exercise their power to
arrange burial where—
(a) deceased patients' relatives cannot be traced;
(b) those whose relatives are traceable but were not. immediately
before the patient's death, liable for his maintenance under Section 42
(1) of the National Assistance Act and are not willing to arrange for
the burial; and
(c) those whose relatives are unable to obtain a death grant under
the National Insurance Act, 1946, and cannot otherwise afford to
arrange for burial.
Where a "liable" relative fails to carry out his responsibility. Hospital
Committees and Boards are advised to refer the matter to the Local
Authority upon whom the duty rests under Section 50 of the Act, in view
of the powers of recovery from the liable relative.
Similarly, in the area of a County Council, the duty of burial or
cremation rests with the County Council where the deceased person had
been provided with accommodation under Part III of the Act.
The burial of three persons were dealt with during the year. They
were: —
(1) The body of a stillborn male child found in a ditch at Chadwell
Heath Lane.
(2) A female, 82 years, lived in lodgings.
(3) A female, 62 years, lived in furnished accommodation.
(17) Hospitals, Etc.
Isolation Hospital.—189 beds are provided.
Maternity Hospital.—51 beds for the reception of maternity cases are
maintained at the Ilford Maternity Hospital. Wilnett Lodge Post.Natal
Home has accommodation for 9 patients.