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than a very short time, so by arrangement with Acton Borough Council and the Coroner bodies are taken
direct to or transferred to Acton Mortuary. The Council pays a proportion of the cost of the maintenance
of the Acton Mortuary.
Medical Examination of Staff.—For superannuation or other purposes 43 members of the Council's
staff were referred to the Health Department for medical examination.
Conferences and Refresher Courses.—The Medical Officer of Health attended the Royal Sanitary
Institute Congress. The Chief Sanitary Inspector attended the Conference of the Sanitary Inspectors'
Association.
Health Education.—Reference has already been made to the special efforts in regard to smoke
abatement and food hygiene.
Posters issued by the Central Council for Health Education continued to be displayed on the boards
formerly used by the Empire Marketing Board. During the year the Medical Officer of Health gave talks
to several organisations in the Borough on various aspects of the health services. Though the work of the
department is not primarily educational the staff are fully aware of the opportunities given by their contact
with the people for drawing attention to matters bearing on health and hygiene.
Persons in Need of Care and Attention.—Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, places
the responsibility on the Council of taking action to secure " the necessary care and attention for 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 action to be taken involves application to the Court for an Order for the compulsory removal
of the person concerned to institution or hospital. Before bringing such cases to the notice of the Council
every effort is made to arrange voluntary admission or for the necessary care to be given by relatives, friends,
etc. During the year no application was made for such an Order.
People are living longer, the housing shortage is accentuating the difficulty which may ensure when
"crabbed age and youth" have to share limited accommodation and family responsibilities seem to be
less readily accepted than in the past. The fact cannot be hidden that the aged can be most trying, and
productive of much tension in those living with and caring for them, but it is difficult to believe that prior
to 5th July, 1948, so many aged and infirm persons were left by their relatives to their own resources in
their own homes. No charge is made for hospital care and the relatives cannot be charged for accommodation
in a National Assistance institution or for the services of a home help and one is forced to the
conclusion that the corporate spirit of family life is deteriorating because of the constant demand for
" someone to do something " in regard to aged and infirm relatives.
Though no application was made during the year for an Order for the compulsory removal of an aged
or infirm person many cases needing some care and attention were brought to the notice of the Department.
A few particulars of some of the cases are given below:—
1. Miss A.—aged 81 years; partially paralysed and incontinent of urine; in lodgings and only
facility for washing clothes is wash basin in bathroom; aged male relative living near at hand
does his best to provide meals and wash bedding; requested home help assistance as no one
could be found to undertake the washing; gas ring in room, wash basin in bathroom and
inadequate soap ration are insufficient for home help to do washing or cooking; admission
to hospital arranged after some delay.
2. Mrs. B.—widow: aged 76 years; senile mental changes; private home in which she is resident
refuse to keep her any longer; children have accommodation but refuse to take mother;
admission to another private home arranged.
3. Mr. C.—widower: aged 78 years; living alone in dilapidated and filthy caravan in company
with emaciated dog; dependent on neighbours for food as unable to care for himself; admission
to hospital arranged and dog destroyed by R.S.P.C.A.
4. Mrs. D.—widow: aged 70 years; lives in one room; not seen by neighbours for some days;
room and person found in filthy condition; Mental Welfare Officer arranged admission to
hospital.
5. Mrs. E.—widow: aged 87 years; almost blind; incontinent; cannot dress or feed herself;
only known relative aged 70 years, lives at a distance and visits occasionally; Welfare Officer
and National Association for the Blind unable to help; home help assistance given for 2 years;
continued deterioration necessitated removal to hospital.
6. Mrs. F.—widow: aged 90 years; occupies flat; signs of deterioration in personal care; never
undresses and appears to live on cups of tea and biscuits; occasional incontinence; refuses to
go to institution; relatives collect pension, do shopping and send washing to laundry; danger
of fire when alone in house; family well advanced in years and though some have accommodation
none will take the old lady; efforts being made to get her to agree to go to institution.
7. Mr. G.—(76 years) and Mrs. G. (74 years): occupy one room on first floor; Mr. G. confined to
bed and Mrs. G. can walk only with aid of crutches; all cooking has to be done on open coa
fire; all water for personal and other washing has to be carried upstairs; water closet in bac
yard; no relatives able to assist or provide accommodation; because of absence of cooking
and washing facilities home help assistance of no real value; unwilling to go to institution to
fear of separation; dependent on kindness of neighbours; recommended for ''meals on wheels
and owner of house approached re provision of some cooking facilities.
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