Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[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-
Peroid | NumberofMeals | GrossCost | Receiptsfrom oldpeople | SubsidyfromL.C.C | GrantfromR.B.K. | NetCost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 1948- | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
March, 1949 | 3,535 | 352 | 149 | - | - | 203 |
1949/50 | 10,461 | 1,016 | 432 | 27 | - | 557 |
1950/51 | 13,758 | 1,250 | 477 | 115 | - | 558 |
1951/52 | 18,370 | 1,634 | 625 | 445 | - | 564 |
1952/53 | 28,426 | 2,103 | 954 | 948 | - | 201 |
1953/54 | 39,196 | 3,459 | 1,317 | 1,306 | 200 | 636 |
1954/55 | 45,116 | 3,853 | 1,611 | 1,512 | 300 | 430 |
1955/56 | 45,933 | 4,204 | 1,926 | 1,531 | 300 | 447 |
1956/57 | 45,995 | 4,211 | 1,933 | 1,758 | 500 | 20 |
1957/58 | 49,334 | 5,054 | 2,064 | 2,056 | 500 | 434 |
1958/59 | 51,002 | 5,210 | 2,134 | 2,125 | 500 | 451 |
1959/60 | 51,532 | 5,482 | 2,138 | 2,219 | 500 | 625 |
1960/61 | 52,317 | Not 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.