London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1931
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea, 1931
This page requires JavaScript
36
ANTE-NATAL WORK.
The work of ante-natal consultations is increasing as the figures in
Table No. 27 demonstrate. Sound advice, based on the most recent
scientific investigation, is provided by the medical officer of the Antenatal
Clinic. Every effort is being made to ensure that mothers will
take full advantage of the excellent arrangements made by the Chelsea
Health Society so that as far as possible all risk of disease and accident
incidental to childbirth may be removed.
SUPPLY OF MILK TO MOTHERS AND YOUNG
CHILDREN.
Provision is made under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918,
whereby milk is provided in necessitous cases, free or at less than cost
price.
The Milk and Welfare Sub-committee meets weekly at the Town
Hall to consider applications.
Free milk is supplied when the total income of the family, after deducting
rent and insurance, does not exceed 4s. 0d. per head per week.
Milk is supplied to other cases on the following basis :—
Nett available incomes 4s. to 5s. at the rate of 1d. per pint.
„ ,, 5s. to 6s. „ ,, 1½d. ,,
,, ,, 6s. to 7s. ,, ,, 2d. „
„ ,, 7s. to 8s. ,, „ 1½d. „
The following table shows for the past two years, the extent of this service. :— TABLE No. 28.
| Year. | Milk Orders issued and taken up. | Approx.Cost. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March quarter. | June quarter. | Sept. quarter. | Dec. quarter. | *Total. | ||
| 1930 | 451 | 420 | 365 | 469 | 1705 | |
| 1931 | 562 | 516 | 510 | 606 | 2194 | £527 |
* These totals do not include orders subsequently cancelled or withdrawn, which
average 150 or more during each year.
It will be observed that in 1931 there was a considerable increase in
the cost of milk. This arose in part as a result of the great increase in
unemployment, necessitating the supply of milk to a large number of
applicants free of cost. It also arose by reason of the fact that cows'
milk was supplied to 73 per cent. of the applicants, dried milk being
supplied to the remaining 27 per cent. In 1926 only 30 per cent. of the
milk supplied was cows' milk.