View report page

NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT 1948 - 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.
At the beginning of 1959 there was one patient already in
hospital as the result of an Order made by the Wimbledon Court under
Section 47 of the 1948 Act. This Order, which had been extended during
1958, was further extended on four occasions during 1959, and the
patient was still in hospital at the end of the year.
Although a number of cases were brought to the notice of the
Public Health Department for investigation during the year, it was
possible to find a solution to each particular problem without resorting
to compulsory powers.
The problem of dealing with the aged and chronic sick will always
be a difficult one. Apart from the difficulties encountered in regard to
the shortage of places in Old People's Homes, and of hospital beds,
problems are often caused by the patients refusal to co-operate. It is
understandable that most of them prefer to stay in their own homes and
retain their independence despite difficulties and hardships. Every
effort is made to meet each problem and in this regard the effective work
done by the District Nurses and Home Helps in keeping many old
people in reasonable comfort in their own homes should be mentioned.
The close liaison which has been established between the Geriatric
Department of St. Helier Hospital, the Guild of Social Welfare, the
General Practitioners and your Medical Officer of Health, continues.
17