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SECTION 47 (Removal to suitable premises of persons in need of care and
attention). Under the provisions of this section, if a Medical Officer of
Health certifies in writing to the appropriate authority that he is satisfied,
after thorough enquiry and consideration, that a person is
(a) suffering from grave chronic disease, or being aged, infirm or physically
incapacitated, is living in insanitary conditions, and
(b) is unable to devote to himself/herself, and is not receiving from
other persons, appropriate care and attention;
the authority may apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for an order for the
compulsory removal of such a person to, and his/her detention in, a suitable
hospital or other place. Seven days' notice of intention to apply to the
court for such an order must be given to the person it is proposed to remove
and to the manager of the establishment to which the person's admission is
sought. An order granted by the court under this section can require a
person's detention for a period not exceeding three months.
The one case dealt with under this section was a man aged 85 years, who
was found to be physically incapacitated and living in insanitary conditions.
Efforts to persuade him to enter residential accommodation were unsuccessful
and the only alternative was to apply to the magistrates court for an order for
his compulsory removal. This order was granted on the 4th March and the man
was removed to Southern Grove Lodge. He settled down quite happily in the
home, where he remained an inmate at the end of the year.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951
Section 1 of this Act enables action similar to that under Section 47 of
the 1948 Act to be taken in respect of persons whose removal, in the opinion of
a Medical Officer of Health and a registered medical practitioner, should be
effected without delay. The application for the compulsory removal order may
in such cases be made to either a court of summary jurisdiction or a single
justice. The period of detention under such an order must not exceed three
weeks, and the requirement to give the person concerned seven days' notice is
waived. The Borough Council has delegated to the Medical Officer of Health
power to take action under this section. The one case dealt with related to
an old lady aged 87 years who was completely bedridden and suffering from
rheumatoid arthritis and a malignant growth. This person refused the assistance
of a home help and, as she was not otherwise receiving proper care and
attention, proceedings for a compulsory removal order remained the only alternative.
An order was granted on the 28th April, and she was taken to the
German Hospital, where she died on the 1st May.
The number of persons brought to the notice of the department as possibly
being in need of care and attention totalled 248. The circumstances of all
such persons were investigated and the sanitary inspectors made some 1,100
visits to these and other known cases.

With regard to other cases, domestic help was arranged for 27 persons and
"Meals on Wheels" for 14. Cleansing treatment was given in 12 cases and the
home and effects of one old person were cleansed.
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT, 1953. SECTION 43. (Power
to sanitary authority to cleanse aged and feeble persons in their homes
or elsewhere). Under the powers contained in this section, where it appears