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
St Pancras 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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In 1921, 105 patients were fitted with dentures. The total cost of these was £384, of
which £234 9s. was paid by the patients themselves, £61 14s. by the Borough Council, £14
by the voluntary fund kindly raised by Mr. A. Escott for that purpose, and £73 17s. from other
sources, particularly the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund. £9 7s. 6d. was also paid by
patients for repairs and additions to old dentures.
Mothers and children are also dealt with at the dental clinic (voluntary) at the St. Pancras
School for Mothers, and the centres at University College and Royal Free Hospitals are able to
refer cases to their own dental departments.
Clinic for Sick Mothers and Children under School Age.—A weekly clinic (Dr.
F. L. Provis) is held at the St. Pancras Dispensary, 39, Oakley Square, N.W.l, to which patients
are referred from the Town Hall, from the infant welfare centres, by the health visitors, and from
other sources. During 1921, 213 new cases under five years of age and 118 ailing mothers or
expectant mothers (new cases) were treated at Dr. Provis' clinic. The total attendances at this
clinic were 845 of children under five and 413 of ailing mothers and expectant mothers. The
corresponding figures for the Dispensary as a whole (including Dr. Provis' clinic, but not the
tuberculosis department) were:—children under five, new cases, 462; attendances, 1,627:
ailing mothers and expectant mothers; new cases, 202; attendances, 626.
The dispensary resident medical officer also made 298 home visits to sick children under 5.
The medical officer of the above-mentioned special clinic is paid by the Borough Council.
He is assisted by a half-time nurse who is paid from voluntary funds. She made 803 home visits
to children under five during the year. The other work of the Dispensary amongst women and
children is supported from voluntary sources.
Supply of Food to Mothers and Children under School Age.—During 1921 the
Council continued to make grants of milk either free or at half-price for the use of expectant or
nursing mothers or children under five years of age.
In last year's Annual Report full details were given of the scheme as it developed in the course of 1920 and the early part of 1921.
In May, 1921, the Council had under consideration a circular from the Ministry of Health, as a result of which the following scale of income was adopted by the Council as a basis for deciding whether grants of milk should be made:—
| No. in Family. | Scale for Distribution of Milk at Half-price. | Scale for Distribution of Free Milk. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18s. per head after deduction of rent | 15s. per head after deduction of rent. | |
| 2 | 14s. 6d. | 10s. „ „ | |
| 3 | 11s. 6d. | 8s. „ „ | |
| 4 | 10s. 6d. „ „ | 7s. ,, | |
| 5 | 9s. 6d. | 6s. 6d. „ „ | |
| 6 | 9s. | 6s. „ | |
Families in receipt of less income than that indicated in the table would be entitled to
receive milk.
The working of the milk scheme is as follows:—Ordinarily, application must be made
at once of the borough infant welfare centres, though, in exceptional cases, application can
be made direct to the Medical Officer of Health at the Town Hall. The application form setting
out details as to the needs and circumstances of the family has to be filled up by the parents and
signed by both father and mother. The signature of the medical officer at the centre is required
to the effect that the grant of milk is necessary on medical grounds, and the superintendent