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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT — CARE OF THE AGED.
Under Section 47 of the above 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.
The 1951 National Assistance (Amendment) 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 1958 it was found necessary for the Council
to apply to the Court for an Order under Section 47 of the 1948 Act.
Every effort had been made to get this old lady, who was partially
blind, to accept help from the domiciliary services but she resolutely
refused every offer of help, and in September an Order was granted
by the Court for the old lady to be removed to hospital. The Court
later granted an extension of the Order, and at the end of the year the
patient was still in hospital.
During 1958 a number of other cases were brought to the notice of
the Public Health Department for investigation where it was felt that
action under Section 47 might be necessary and it is gratifying to be
able to report that a satisfactory solution was found to each particular
problem without resorting to compulsory powers.
The care of the aged will continue to be an evergrowing preoccupation
for many sections of the Health service, and in this regard
the effective work done by District Nurses and Home Helps in keeping
many old people in reasonable comfort in their own homes should
be mentioned.
The close liaison between the local doctors, the Geriatric Department
of St. Helier Hospital, the Divisional Welfare Officer, the voluntary
organisations in Wimbledon dealing with the aged, and your Medical
Officer of Health, continues.
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