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It has been my view that aged and infirm persons who
cannot be persuaded to accept institutional care should not
be dealt with under this Act unless the conditions are
extremely bad, and I have advised the Council accordingly.
An unfortunate result of this policy is that only those relatives
who abandon their aged ones entirely are relieved of responsibility
whilst those who struggle on, themselves often in bad
health and economic difficulties, to keep conditions tolerable
for their old folk, have little hope of any relief or assistance
from their heavy burdens. It seems illogical that a State
which provides expensive institutional accommodation for
aged persons in need of care and attention, and places no
obligation on individuals to provide for them, should do
nothing whatever to assist relatives and others to keep them
out of such institutions as long as possible. Home Helps
are usually unobtainable for these long-term cases, but if
those married daughters who are obliged to go out to work
to supplement the family income were subsidised to stay at
home and look after their infirm relatives and babies, much
would be saved in nursery and institutional expense, and
many staff would be relieved for the care of the sick or for
productive work, I believe that a scheme of this kind, applied
in appropriate cases, would add unmeasurably to the health,
happiness and unity of all members of the families concerned,
without loss whatever in national economy or production
in the long run.
In conclusion, I would again like to record my appreciation
to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
Committee for their support, and to the staff of the Public
Health Department for their help and co-operation during
the year. For the statistical information which the Area
Health and Divisional Educational Departments of the
County Council have provided for this report, grateful
acknowledgements are also made.
. H. FRANKS, MB., B.S., B.HY., D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health.
July, 1950.
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