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Council for the eight months, that is, to the end of the present financial
year, to be £133.
Confinements in hospitals, either for normal or abnormal cases, has
never been such a big question in Hampstead as in some of the
neighbouring Boroughs; thus during 1918, 109 Hampstead residents
were confined in hospitals other than Poor Law Institutions, and of
these 39 were confined in Queen Charlotte's Hospital. The Board's
grant is available for the aid of such facilities, and it appears to me
desirable that the Borough Council should aid the funds of Queen
Charlotte's Hospital provided satisfactory arrangements could be made
in respect of letters of admission, &c. I have been in communication
with the Hospital and they propose the following arrangement, that:—
" The Council agrees to pay to the Hospital ten shillings for every
patient resident in the Borough who may be admitted to the
Hospital, and in return they receive Letters of Recommendation
to enable them to recommend patients for admission to the
Hospital, one Letter being issued for every £6 contributed,
which is the estimated cost of each patient."
Seeing that the number of Hampstead patients is approximately 40,
this would entail an annual grant of £20, in return for which we would
receive three letters of admission, which might be put at the disposal of
the Ante-Natal Clinic for use in abnormal and urgent cases. I would,
therefore, recommend that the Council enter into an agreement as
mentioned above with Queen Charlotte's Hospital and I estimate the
annual cost at £24, or tor the remaining eight months of the present
financial year £1G.
4. Creches and Day Nurseries. —Except for the Eastern Creche
being badly housed no help seems to be necessary in regard to either of
the Hay Nurseries in the Borough. Both seem to be provided with
sufficient funds, the Board of Education make a very substantial grant
to both. If the Committee should favourably consider either of these
suggestions I have put forward under the heading of Centres, then it
would be desirable to offer the Pond,Street Creche accommodation within
that Centre, and they have indicated their willingness to avail themselves
of the same if offered at an equitable rent. Except for this I have no
recommendation to make in respect of these Institutions.
5. Food.—As previously stated, the Council has already voted a
sum of £200 for supplying milk at a low rate or free to expectant and
nursing mothers, and to children up to five years of age. This has been
utilised as follows :—
Number of families assisted from 1st February to 30th April —
101.
Cost incurred—£141 l(5s. 5d.
Average cost per week—£10 18s. 2d.
On May 1st the price of milk dropped from 10d. to 7d. per quart,
and the number of applicants for assisted milk has decreased markedly.
I am of opinion that althongh the provision for the supply of milk
should continue, no further elaboration of the scheme is necessary at
present, and that £80 will suffice to meet the amount for the next six
months. I would therefore recommend that the Committee should advise