London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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make container units capable of carrying 20 main meals in expendable
foilpak dishes each having a 12-ounce capacity, These dishes which
"nest" in quantity are extremely light and have a modest salvage
value. Four container units can be plugged into one vehicle.
The containers have top and bottom doors so that food can be
removed from the top section first and the maximum heat retained in
the bottom section. The foilpak dishes are placed five to each of
four removable wire cages, each dish being completely separated from
its neighbour. At the delivery point, two foilpak dishes containing
a complete meal are taken out on a metal dish covered with a close
fitting dish cover and carried to the recipient.
The system, the first of its kind in this country, possesses
the following advantages~ — —
(i) space and weight saving;
(ii) portability and lightness in handling;
(iil) maintenance of temperature;
(iv) abolition of washing up, with consequent
saving in staff wages;
(v) abolition of the necessity for serving
meals in the van;
(vi) cleanliness and ease of service;
(vii) increased speed and efficiency of service;
(viii) added convenience and comfort for staff and
beneficiaries;
(ix) more appetising meals;
(x) no breakages of crockery.
In operation, it has proved most popular with the old people
and the staff.

The following statement shows the progress of the servioe and financial effect since the inception of the schemes-

PeroidNumberofMealsGrossCostReceiptsfrom oldpeopleSubsidyfromL.C.CGrantfromR.B.K.NetCost
October 1948-£££££
March, 19493,535352149--203
1949/5010,4611,01643227-557
1950/5113,7581,250477115-558
1951/5218,3701,634625445-564
1952/5328,4262,103954948-201
1953/5439,1963,4591,3171,306200636
1954/5545,1163,8531,6111,512300430
1955/5645,9334,2041,9261,531300447
1956/5745,9954,2111,9331,75850020
1957/5849,3345,0542,0642,056500434
1958/5951,0025,2102,1342,125500451
1959/6051,5325,4822,1382,219500625
1960/6152,317Not yet available

It will be observed that the number of meals served continues
to increase and for the year I960/6I has reached a record total of
52,317.