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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 1960 no burial was arranged in accordance with this section.
PUBLIC MORTUARY. The public mortuary situated in the grounds of Holy Trinity
Church, has been demolished. The premises were out-of-date and unsuitable for postmortem
examination or the retention of a body for other than a very short time. By
arrangement with the Coroner, bodies are taken direct to Acton or Hampton Mortuaries.
The Council pays a charge made for the use of these mortuaries.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OP STAFF. For superannuation or other purposes 145
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. The Chief Public Health
Inspector engaged in similar activities, particularly in those parts of the Borough
affected by Smoke Control Orders. 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 Department 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 cleansing of articles where the Medical
Officer of Health has issued the certificates required by the Act. The number of
cases participating in this service is increasing.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE. Sessions for the collection of blood from donors
were held as under:-
Hounslow
Isleworth
9th, 10th and 11th April
27th, 28th and 29th August
7th February
26th June
13th August
18th December
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