View report page

11
Homes for Mollicrs and Infants.—There were seven Homes in Westminster
for unAarried mothers, but four of these have removed to
suburban districts. Another Home, which formerly admitted maternity
cases, now restricts its activities to Rescue Work. They were inspected
during the year. Of the remaining two, one admits mothers before and
after confinement for varying periods till they can be passed on to other
Homes, or placed in service, about 50 pass through this Home annually.
The other admits women from Rescue Homes for confinement, after which
they may stay for a period or return to the Home from which they came.
Supply of Milk.—Grants of milk free or at reduced prices were made to
247 expectant and nursing mothers and to children under 5 years of age.
Except in a few instances ordinary milk was granted, in the others, dried
milk. The amount expended was £239 7s. 3d. for " fresh " milk, £4 8s. 8d.
for dried ; total, £243 15s. 11d. Applications for milk are required to be
accompanied by a certificate from the medical officer of one of the Centres,
or from a hospital or dispensary medical officer. A committee was
formed at each of the four Centres to consider the applications and the
circumstances of the applicants, and to decide whether milk should be
granted, and if so whether free or at reduced cost. Their decisions are
forwarded to the Public Health Department, from which the necessary
orders are issued. Each case is re-considered monthly.
In cases in which the applicant is already in receipt of Poor Law
Relief, or in which it is considered that such relief is required, reference
is made to the Guardians, so that one authority only deals with the
matter. In cases with little or no income the Guardians are able to assist
with other food as well as milk.
In addition to the above, dried milk is kept at all the Centres, and is
supplied to suitable cases at cost price. The amount so supplied was
6,253 lbs., making a total of 6,291 lbs. sold at cost and at reduced
charges.
Deaths.
1,772 deaths were registered in the City in the 53 weeks. After
deducting 933 deaths of non-citizens in public institutions in the City,
and adding those of 761 citizens who died in other districts, the corrected
total is 1,600, and is equivalent to an annual rate of 11"8 per
1,000 persons, calculated on the estimated civil population.
The London death-rate for 1920 was 12 4, for England and Wales
12*4. The number of deaths and the death-rates per 1,000 for a series
of years are shown below:—