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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.
In one case during 1951 it was found necessary for the Council to
apply to the Court for an Order under this Section. Every effort had
been made to improve conditions under which this old woman was
living through the assistance of the district nurses, the home help service
and the W.V.S. This however had not been successful and in December
an Order was granted by the Court for the old person to be
removed for a period of three months to a County Welfare establishment.
At the beginning of 1951 there was one patient already in hospital
as the result of an Order made by the local Court in 1948 under this
Section. In January 1951 application was made for a Varying Order
enabling the patient to be transferred from hospital to a County Welfare
establishment, thus releasing a hospital bed. The Order was
granted, and the old lady was transferred accordingly. She remained
there during the course of the year.
MASS RADIOGRAPHY.
By arrangement with the South-West Metropolitan Regional
Hospital Board, the Mass Radiography Unit was stationed at West
Wimbledon from 18th to 30th May, 1951, when facilities were offered
to all persons over the age of 14 years for x-ray examination of the
chest. Such examinations are of course carried out without charge.