London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Battersea 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]

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30
During the year 144 persons in 112 families who came within
its terms were supplied with Tuberculin tested or dried milk through
the Public Assistance Authority. The quantity of milk supplied to
these families was about 12,969 pints of liquid, and 124 lbs. of dried
milk. The cost involved was approximately £244, which was borne
by the London County Council. These figures (except as to cost)
are included in the foregoing tables.
Under another arrangement with the London County Council
the Council undertakes to supply milk to those expectant mothers
(not in receipt of Public Assistance grants) who attend the ante-natal
clinics attached to the County Council's general hospitals and who are
certified by the medical officers of the County Council to be in need
of additional nourishment. The grant of milk in these cases
however is limited to those mothers whose income comes within the
Council's scale. During the year 1,139 pints of Tuberculin tested
milk were supplied under this scheme, the number of mothers affected
being 23. These figures are also included in the foregoing tables.
In addition to the grant of milk, at reduced rates or free
of charge, it has been the practice to issue dried milk at cost price
to those mothers attending the welfare centres whose income though
not entitling them, under the Council's scale, to purchase it at
reduced prices, does not enable them to afford the full retail prices.
The Committee in 1935 approved a scheme by which vouchers
issued by two manufacturers were distributed at the welfare centres
in suitable cases entitling the holders to purchase dried milk
at chemists' shops at reduced prices. During 1937 vouchers for
8,871 lbs. of dried milk were issued, and in addition 80 lbs. were
sold at cost price.
For the benefit of the more necessitous families the Council
have an arrangement with two bodies, the Women's League of
Service, at Southlands, and the Invalid Kitchens of London Association,
who have a hall in Henley Street, whereby dinners are
provided for mothers and children in need of nourishment.
The numbers of such meals supplied at the cost of the Council
during 1937 were:—
Women's League of Service (children 161
Invalid Kitchens Association (women) 294
,, „ ,, (children) 1,059
a total of 1,514, the cost to the Council being £29 8s. 3d.
A number of other cases informally referred to the dining rooms
of the Women's League of Service from the centres have received
meals without cost to the Council.
The Ministry of Health in April issued to all Maternity and Child
Welfare Authorities an important circular letter (No. 1519) which
referred to the recently issued First Report of the Advisory Committee
on Nutrition and, in particular, to the emphasis laid in