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At the end of the year 54 houses, subject to Demolition Orders, Closing Orders or Undertakings not
to re-let till rendered fit, were still occupied. The continued occupation of these houses is a matter of some
concern and a special report on the matter was submitted to the Health Committee in July. After consultation
with the Housing Committee an approach was made to the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government. The Ministry undertook, when sites became available, to give an additional allocation of
houses to be used specifically for the re-housing of occupants of such unfit houses.
The Housing Department is kept informed of adverse housing conditions coming to the notice of
the Health Department. Assistance is given to the Housing Department in the assessment of applications
for re-housing where priority is claimed on medical or public health grounds.
GENERAL MATTERS
Burials.—Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, it is the duty of the Council to
arrange the burial of any person who has died in the district where it appears that there are no suitable
arrangements for the disposal of the body. During 1951,85 burials were arranged in accordance with this
section.
Public Mortuary.—The public mortuary is situated in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church. The
premises are out-of-date and unsuitable for post-mortem examinations or the retention of a body for other
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 36 members of the Council's
staff were referred to the Health Department for medical examination.
Health Education.—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.
The National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, shortens the legal precedure for obtaining an Order
"if its is certified by the medical officer of health and another registered medical practitioner that in their
opinion it is necessary, in the interests of the person, to remove him without delay." During the year
no application was made for an Order.
People are living longer, the housing shortage is accentuating the difficulty which may ensue 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. 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 the demand for "someone to do something" in regard to aged and infirm relative
grows.
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.
The care of the aged, infirm and chronic sick is a growing task. In this work there is great scope
for voluntary effort and the first principle should be the care of old people by their own relatives in their
own homes. While this is "morally right and economically essential" there is an urgent need for some
method of co-ordinating the work of statutory authorities and voluntary agencies so that the best use is
made of premises, staff and the " milk of human kindness."
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