View report page

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
1963 one 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 The premises were out-of-date and unsuitable for post-mortem
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 OF STAFF. For superannuation or other purposes 157 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 Departments have co operated by displaying health educational material.
The anti smoking unit of the Central Council for Health Education spent 5 days in
the Borough visiting secondary schools and teachers' training colleges.
PFRSONS 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" -
Hounsiow Isleworth
12th, 13th and 14th January 7th April.
3rd March, 25th August
25th, 26th and 27th May.
21st July
5th 6th and 7th October.
31