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 1921
Report for the year 1921 of the Medical Officer of Health
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38
A scheme submitted by the Council early in 1920 under the Maternity and
Child Welfare Act, 1918, for the supply of milk and food to necessitous mothers and
infants had received the approval of the Ministry of Health, and been in operation
for some time when the revised conditions were issued. It was found that this
scheme agreed closely with the new conditions of the Ministry of Health, and,
subject to the slight modifications required, approval was given for the scheme to be
continued.
Applications received for milk free or at less than cost price are carefully
investigated. Enquiries are made to verify statements of wages and other income ;
information is obtained from the Guardians of the Poor as to relief given for unemployment
or other necessitous conditions. Other possible sources of assistance are
investigated, and all practicable steps taken to prevent overlapping. The applications
are considered by an Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee meeting fortnightly for the purpose. Where grants are made the cases are
reviewed by the Sub-Committee at intervals not exceeding one month. In October
the graduated scale of income was revised in view of the decrease in the cost of living,
and the new reduced scale has received the approval of the Ministry of Health.
During the year 337 applicants received free or assisted milk or food under the
Scheme. This number included 120 who were receiving such assistance at the end of
the year 1920. Grants were made in 217 new cases. At the end of the year 1921,
72 cases were receiving assistance.
The following table shows new cases assisted in 1921.
| Milk. | Food. | Prepared Milk. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free. | Part Cost | Free. | Part Cost. | Free. | Part Cost. | |
| Expectant Mothers | 23 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Nursing Mothers | 62 | 30 | 8 | 1 | — | — |
| Children | 80 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 16 |
Home Help.
The Council's Home Help has attended 19 cases during the year, and has
assisted at the Centre when not at work in a home; the Emergency Home Help has
been engaged six times.
All applications for the services of the Home Help are considered by the
Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
In live cases of extreme necessity the services of the Home Help were granted
free.
In 14 cases the applicants were required to contribute towards the cost, contributions
ranging from 20s. to 5s. per week.
The services of the Home Help have been much appreciated, and it has been
found that the Council's provision meets a much felt want in the Borough.