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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Church, The premises are out-of-date and unsuitable for post-mortem examinations or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 maintenance of the
Acton Mortuary,
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF- For superannuation or other purposes 150 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 co-operated by displaying health
educational 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:-
(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'.
Despite the growing interest of statutory and voluntary agencies in the welfare
of the aged, cases come to the notice of the Department of neglected aged persons
living in insanitary conditions. Such persons are usually most reluctant to accept
assistance or to go to hospital or institution, but fortunately, in most cases,
peaceful persuasion secures their co operation in some degree and the necessary action
can be taken. In no case was it necessary to seek authority to apply for an Order
for compulsory removal to hospital or institution,
LAUNDRY SERVICE - One of the problems in the care of aged and sick persons in
their own homes is soiled clothing and bed linen. Where washing facilities are poor
and the persons concerned neither have nor can afford assistance, the cleansing of
clothing and bedding presents serious difficulty. In some cases, action under
Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936, is the only solution and the Council has
made arrangements with a laundry firm for the cleasing of articles where the Medical
Officer of Health has issued the certificate required by the Act. The number of
cases in which such action has been necessary is small, but the provision of these
facilities has met a genuine need.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE- Sessions for the collection of blood from donors
were held as under:
Hounslow Isleworth.
7th, 8th and 9th January 15th April
12th, 13th and 14th May 12th August
15th, 16th and 17th September. 9th December.
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