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30
Under another arrangement with the London County Council
the Council undertakes to supply milk to those expectant mothers
(not in receipt of Public Assistance grants) who attend the ante-natal
clinics attached to the County Council's general hospitals and who are
certified by the medical officers of the County Council to be in need
of additional nourishment. The grant of milk in these cases
however is limited to those mothers whose income comes within the
Council's scale. During the year 2,468 pints of Tuberculin tested
milk were supplied under this scheme, the number of mother affected
being 54. These figures are also included in the foregoing tables.
In addition to the grant of milk, at reduced rates or free
of charge, it has been the practice to issue dried milk at cost price
to those mothers attending the welfare centres whose income though
not entitling them, under the Council's scale, to purchase it at
reduced prices, does not enable them to afford the full retail prices.
The Committee in 1935 approved a scheme by which vouchers
issued by two manufacturers were distributed at the welfare centres
in suitable cases entitling these mothers to purchase dried milk
at chemists' shops at reduced prices. During 1936 vouchers for
3,430 lbs. of dried milk were issued, and in addition 52 lbs. were
sold at cost price.
In addition to the provision of milk, dinners to the number of
16 were supplied during 1936 to necessitous expectant and nursing
mothers and children at a cost of 6s. 81, by arrangement with
the Women's League of Service. Recently a charitable fund has
enabled the League to provide many meals free of charge, and a
number of cases informally referred to their dining rooms from
the Centres have received meals without cost to the Council.
Necessitous mothers were also referred from the Welfare
Centres to the depot of the Invalid Kitchens of London Association
in Henley Street, where their children were supplied with 76
dinners during 1936 at a cost to the Council of £1 5s. 4d.
Dental Clinic.
This Clinic was established in 1920 as an integral part of the
Council's scheme for Maternity and Child Welfare to provide facilities
for the dental treatment of expectant and nursing mothers and
children under 5 years of age. Five sessions are held weekly in
addition to one for tuberculous patients (vide page 73).
This service is provided, under contract, by the British Dental
Hospital, who supply the dental surgeon, equipment, and other
requisites. Advice, extractions, fillings, &c., are supplied free of
cost, but a moderate charge is made for artificial dentures which
is borne by the patient, assisted in necessitous cases by contributions
obtained from various philanthropic bodies, including
the Samaritan Fund of the British Dental Hospital, and also by
grants from the Council.
The Dental Clinic is also available for patients recommended
by the medical officers of the Maternity and Child Welfare clinics
of the voluntary associations linked up with the Council's scheme.
The work of the Dental Clinic during 1936 is summarised as
follows:—