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SECTION B. - GENERAL PROVISION OF
HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE AREA.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1936, PART IV. — NURSING HOMES.
The Wimbledon Borough Council is responsible for the registration
and supervision of nursing homes in the Borough. Ten visits of inspection
were made during 1954.
No additional homes were registered during the year. Two were
exempted on an annual basis, from registration under Section 192 of
the Public Health Act, 1936.
There was one application for registration in respect of premises
which had been acquired as an extension to an existing nursing home.
This meant in effect the re-registration of the nursing home. At the
end of the year re-registration had not been granted pending compliance
with precautions against fire and means of escape.
The position at the end of 1954 was as follows:—
Number of homes on the register:—
Maternity Nil
Others 5
Number of beds provided 64
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951.
Under Section 47 of the 1948 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
(«) 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.
The 1951 Act enables Local Authorities to deal more expeditiously
with very urgent cases by initial removal, for a period not exceeding
three weeks.
In one case during 1954 it was found necessary for the Council
to apply to the Court for an Order under the provisions of these Acts.
Every effort had been made to give assistance to this old lady, but
conditions continued to deteriorate, and in March an Order was granted
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