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All these houses are incapable of being made fit at a reasonable cost and their continued occupation
is a matter of some concern. Deterioration progresses and little or nothing can be done to slow this down.
While many considerations must govern the selection of tenants for Council houses it should be noted
that more than ten years have passed since some of these houses were condemned.
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 1952, 64 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premises are out-of-date and unsuitable for post-mortem examinations or the retention of a body for other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 22 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. Other Departments have cooperated by displaying health education material.
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—
(а) 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. The National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951,
shortens the legal procedure for obtaining an Order "if it 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." 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 one application was made for an Order and the person concerned was removed in due course to an
institution.
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.
We are now confronted with a situation where an ever increasing number of elderly persons must
either have an opportunity to work and support themselves or be supported by a proportionately dwindling
group of younger people. All elderly persons are not fit for work and varying types and degrees of care
must be devised to meet a wide range of need. Many agencies are concerned in this work. Among official
agencies we have local sanitary authorities, local health authorities, welfare authorities, regional hospital
boards, executive councils and the National Assistance Board. Much voluntary work is done through
churches, "Darby and Joan" and such types of clubs, philanthrophic societies, community associations,
wireless for the bedridden," mayor's and other special funds, Women's Voluntary Services, British Red
ross Society and many other organisations. Despite all this effort old people continue to be found who,
somehow or other, have been missed by all these agencies and in whose case, only too often, differences
arise as to which official or voluntary agency should accept this new responsibility. The care of the aged
can be most trying and exhausting but the growing task must be faced and can bring much satisfaction if
tackled in the right spirit. There is real need for some authority to organise a service for the aged just as
m the past maternity and child welfare authority were created. This authority should have power to secure
any necessary action and should give much attention to the prevention or slowing down of deterioration
in the aged by an organised system of home visitation and supervision.
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