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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. Eight visits of
inspection were made during 1955.
One existing nursing home was re-registered during the year to
include premises which had been acquired as an extension. One hospital
and one nursing home were exempted, on an annual basis, from
registration under Section 192 of the Public Health Act, 1936.
The position at the end of 1955 was as follows:—
Number of homes on the register:—
Maternity Nil
Others 5
Number of beds provided 73
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
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease, or, being aged,
infirm or physically incapacitated, are living in insanitary
conditions; and
(ft) 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.
It was not found necessary for the Council to make application to
the Court for any such Orders during 1955.
A number of border line cases were brought to the notice of the
Health Department during the year. All necessary help and advice
was given in each individual case, and every effort made to improve
the conditions found upon inspection.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
The Ministry of Health, Public Health Laboratory at Epsom is
available for the bacteriological examination of samples of milk, icecream
and water, swabs, sputum and other pathological specimens. In
addition the staff is always available to assist the Medical Officer of
Health in the investigation of any important outbreaks of disease.
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