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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948.
Under Section 47 of this Act, power is given to the Councils
of County Boroughs and County Districts to apply to a Court of
Summary Jurisdiction for an Order for removal and detention, in a
suitable hospital or other place, of persons who
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease, or, being aged, infirm
or physically incapacitated, are living in insanitary conditions;
and
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving
from other persons, proper care and attention.
During 1950 eight cases were brought to the attention of the
Public Health Department where it was thought that action under
Section 47 might be necessary. In one of these cases there was
found to be no justification for such action. In another case the
patient died. In the remaining six cases beds were obtained in
suitable hospitals or homes, and all the patients ultimately agreed
to removal.
At the beginning of 1950 there was one patient already in
hospital as the result of an Order made by the local Court under
Section 47 of the Act in 1948. This Order, which had been extended
during 1949, was further extended during 1950, and the patient was
still in hospital at the end of the year.
MASS RADIOGRAPHY.
By arrangement with the South-West Metropolitan Regional
Hospital Board, the Mass Radiography Unit was stationed in Wimbledon
from 9th October to 17th November, 1950.
This x-ray unit offers facilities for the free x-ray of the chest
of all persons over the age of 14 years. During the visit to Wimbledon
special appointments were available for business houses,
associations, schools, etc., and wide publicity was given beforehand
I am indebted to the Secretary of the Mass Radiography Unit
for the following particulars of the persons who attended for examination.
The facilities were available to all, whether they resided
in the Borough or not. The statistics given hereunder do not,
therefore, necessarily relate onlv to Dersons residing in Wimbledon.