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7
REMOVAL OF PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE AND
ATTENTION, Section 47, National Assistance Act, 1948
Under the above Section the Medical Officer of Health has power
to apply to the Courts for an order of compulsory removal of persons
to hospital or other suitable accommodation in circumstances where
they (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.
There were 9 cases reported during the year of old people in
need of care and attention.
In no case was it necessary to take action under Section 47, of
the National Assistance Act.
Co-operation with Kingston Hospital remains very good ; the
situation as regards admission of urgent cases to hospital is much
improved, as the Geratrician visits the patients in their homes to
assess their need for admission.
The County Welfare Department is always most helpful in providing
residential accommodation for suitable cases.
Dysentery
During 1956 there were 4 cases of Dysentery notified; the infecting
organism was Shigella Sonne.
FOOD POISONING
It is very satisfactory to note that there were no cases of Food
Poisoning notified during the year.
FOOD
The implementation of the provisions of the Food Hygiene Regulations
has taken up a considerable amount of time. The requirements
necessary to facilitate the hygienic handling of foodstuffs are now
more clearly and specifically defined but public health officers are once
more up against the thorny old question as to what is reasonable and
sufficient under varying sets of circumstances. Reasonable protection
against contamination is called for under the Regulations. Certain
natural commodities, such as tomatoes, dessert apples, peaches, grapes
etc., are in contact with contaminating materials during their growth
and handling for market and it is difficult to maintain that handling
with dirty hands will add much to existing contamination. However,
other 'open' foods such as boiled ham, tongue and prepared meats, are
still being handled in premises where hand-washing and storage facilities
are remote and comparatively primitive. To provide proper
facilities in a reasonably convenient and accessible position will present
difficulties and expense in many cases. However, it is quite clear that
traders rarely take the initiative in providing these facilities and now