London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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117
Supply of Milk and Food for Expectant and Nursing Mothers and for Infants.
The supply of milk and food at less than cost price was continued during the
year under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, for nursing mothers,
expectant mothers in the last three months of pregnancy, children up to three
years of age and, exceptionally, to children between three and five years of age.
During the year 207 applicants received free or assisted milk under the scheme.
This number included 110 who were receiving such assistance at the end of 1929.
Grants were made to 97 new applicants.
At the end of the year 1930, 117 applicants were receiving assistance, viz. :
| Mothers. | Children. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free milk | 38 | 70 | 108 |
| Half price milk | 4 | — | 4 |
| Prepared milk | — | 5 | 5 |
| 42 | 75 | 117 |
The following table shows in detail how the 97 new applicants were assisted in 1930
| Milk. | Prepared Milk. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free. | Part Cost. | Free. | Part Cost. | |
| Expectant mothers | 20 | 3 | - | |
| Nursing mothers | 13 | 1 | — | — |
| Children | 43 | 2 | 14 | 1 |
Home Help.
The Council's Home Helps attended 19 cases during the year in comparison
with 24 in the year 1929. In nine of these the whole-time officer attended entirely
and in nine she attended during the earlier part of the lying-in period, being
replaced later by one of the Home Helps from the emergency panel in order to
take over new cases. In one case an emergency Home Help only was employed.
The emergency Home Helps were engaged when more than one case occurred at
the same time and during the absence of the Home Help on summer vacation and
sick leave.
All applications for the services of the Home Help are considered by the
Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
In three cases of extreme necessity the services of the Home Help were granted
free. In all other cases the applicants were required to contribute towards the cost,
contributions ranging from 5s. Od. per week up to the full cost. The services of the
Home Help have been much appreciated; it has been found that the Council's
provision meets a much felt want in the Borough.
The scheme, of Home Helps could with advantage be extended to any illness
of mothers occurring during pregnancy and after labour. It would also be very
useful to heads of families if they could obtain through the Council the services
of a reliable woman to carry out the duties of the mother when she is incapacitated
by illness, the cost being borne by the applicant.