[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow].

  • Walthamstow (England). Borough Council.
Date:
[1951?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    57/98 page 55
    55 Removal took place to the Part III accommodation after previous agreement with the hospital and welfare authority as to the exact type of accommodation needed. A subsequent followup visit was paid to Mrs. I. and it was obvious to all concerned that an extension of the order would be necessary and this was granted for a further three months in May, 1951. When seen at Langthorne Hospital it was at once apparent that the care and attention bestowed had transferred her from a dirty and neglected old woman into a rather attractive old lady who would, however, need permanent care in an institution. Two further cases have been dealt with during the current year, and the experience of all these cases stresses the need for a Local Authority to delegate its powers in order to avoid delay in making application to the Court, for agreement as between the hospital and the Part III Authority as to the type of accommo dation needed, and for the definite reservation of a bed before the Court hearing, and finally, the co-operation of the family doctor and if possible, the written concurrence of the nearest relative. There is also need for the restoration of authority similar to that formerly possessed by the Relieving Officer to require the immediate admission to hospital of the aged and chronic sick poor who need hospital treatment and who are willing to accept such treatment. For those who will not accept such treatment there only remains the rather cumbersome procedure of Section 47. It is understood that a Bill has been introduced in the House of Commons designed to amend the procedure for urgent cases under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, with a view to avoiding the present delays.] 4. Funeral Arrangements.—Arrangements were made in regard to the burials of three persons. 5. Mortuary Provision, etc.—A Coroner's Court, mortuary (with special provision for infectious disease cases) and a post mortem room is provided by your Council at Queen's Road Cemetery. The Borough Engineer and Surveyor reports that the number of Inquests and post-mortems were as follows:— Inquests only 57 Post-Mortems only 253 Post-Mortems and Inquests 47 357
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