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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 Council has power to apply to the
Courts for an order for the removal of persons to hospitals or other
suitable accommodation where they are:—
(a) 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.
Twenty cases of old people in need of care and attention were
investigated during the year. In one case it was necessary to take
action under Section 47 but in the remaining cases the old people
either agreed to go into hospital or other arrangements were made at
home for their care.
The case in which action became imperative was one of an old
lady aged 89 years living alone in a flat. She was very deaf, but very
independent and determined to manage her own place. Her daughter,
who lived quite near, came in each day to provide food.
The emergency arose by the old lady collapsing one night and
being unable to get back to her bed herself. Her daughter found her
on the floor the next morning and called in her own doctor, who
advised immediate admission to hospital. The patient was adamant
in her refusal to enter hospital. As the situation was now urgent, I
submitted a certificate jointly with her own doctor applying for an
Order under the National Assistance (Amendment) Act. This was
granted and she was removed unwillingly to Barnes Hospital.
As the Order was for a period of three weeks only, I visited the
patient in hospital to consider applying for an extension. I found
that she had settled down happily and was well liked by the staff.
She agreed to remain in hospital voluntarily and has, in fact, done
so. The last report, at the time of writing, stated she was well and
happy.
Co-operation with Kingston Hospital remains good. The situation
as regards admission of urgent cases has improved, although the
position was very difficult in the autumn and winter months on
account of the epidemic of influenza. The appointment of the
Geriatrician, who visits patients in their own homes to assess their
need for admission, has done much to ease the situation.
The County Welfare Department is always very helpful in
arranging for admission of old people to other accommodation.