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This decision closes a memorable chapter in the history of this
Hospital which was provided by the then Urban District Council of
Walthamstow at the beginning of the century. The change of user
is a reflection of the progress which has been made in the control of
these diseases.
6. Aged and chronic Sick.
National Assistance Act, 1948 (Section 47).
Application was made to the Stratford Court for the compulsory
removal to hospital of an aged male living by himself under
grossly insanitary conditions. The hearing was adjourned, the
Bench declining an invitation to visit the premises to see the actual
conditions. Subsequent to the second adjournment the man was
found dead in his "home."
In a second case authority was given by the Council to make
application to the Court for an order. The person concerned was
a woman of some 85 years of age, the owner-occupier of a house,
who was blind and cardiac and who sub-let to two other elderly and
infirm tenants.
Part-time domestic help and "Meals on Wheels" had been
provided since May 1949, following a refusal of her family doctor's
advice to accept institutional treatment which had been arranged.
At a visit paid in November 1949 the general conditions were
bad, and there was considerable danger through the use of oil lamps
for heating and cooking. It was felt, however, that from previous
experience in regard to Section 47 procedure that an order might
not be granted by the Court. The position remained static until
May 1951, when the domestic help reported Mrs. "C" to be unwell,
and that she would not call the family doctor through fear of
removal to hospital.
Later there was some improvement, but in August 1950, the
family doctor reported Mrs. "C" to be "falling about" increasingly
and that she had again refused hospital treatment. Later there was
again improvement, but in January 1952, domestic help was again
increased together with home nursing, and the family doctor was in
daily attendance. The patient still refused hospital treatment.
By February 1952, the patient was obviously permanently bedridden
and the family doctor urged compulsory removal to hospital.
Following the Council's resolution to make application to the
Court, the only known relative, a niece in Wales, was asked to come
to Walthamstow to persuade her aunt to go to hospital, a bed at
Langthorne having been made available by the transfer of a patient
to Part III accommodation by the Welfare Officer. Fortunately,
when the ambulance called, the niece was able to persuade the old
lady to go to hospital and without recourse being made to the Court.