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
Battersea 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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The Council agreed, and later Dr. Hamilton, Assistant Medical
Officer of Health (Maternity and Child Welfare) was appointed to
act in such a capacity at St. James's and St. Stephen's L.C.C.
hospitals.
By arrangement with the County Council the treatment of
minor ailments found in children attending the centres may also
be carried out at the school clinics of the County Council, of which
there are three serving Battersea. This service was only utilised
in a few cases.
The. Council's health visiting staff also visit and report on the
home conditions of Battersea women and children receiving treatment
in the obstetric, gynaecological and other departments of the
various hospitals.
Milk for Necessitous Persons.
Under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
milk both fresh and dried is provided by the Council for necessitous
expectant and nursing mothers and children under 5 years of age.
The following tables give various particulars of the supply for the
present compared with the past five years:—
A.—Number of Persons Supplied, 1933-8.
| Year. | Mothers. | Children. (Years.) | Total Persons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exp. | Nursing. | 0— | ¼- | 1½- | 3—5 | ||
| 1933 | 263 | 463 | 64 | 619 | 553 | 64 | 2,026 |
| 1934 | 205 | 356 | 58 | 488 | 434 | 76 | 1,617 |
| 1935 | 198 | 388 | 64 | 495 | 392 | 53 | 1,590 |
| 1936 | 257 | 319 | 59 | 548 | 376 | 57 | 1,616 |
| 1937 | 267 | 284 | 98 | 558 | 393 | 78 | 1,678 |
| 1938 | 372 | 328 | 98 | 662 | 445 | 166 | 2,071 |
[The classification in this table is based on the condition of the mother or
the age of the child when milk was first supplied during the year.]
B.— Quantity and Cost of Milk Supplied.
| Year. | Liquid (pints). | Dried (lbs.) | % Supplied. | Cost to Council. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | At reduced price. | ||||
| 1933 | 237,629 | 3,642 | 90.7 | 9.3 | £3,280 |
| 1934 | 153,906 | 2,483 | 90.0 | 100 | £2,045 |
| 1935 | 162,824 | 3,473 | 86.1 | 13.9 | £2,718 |
| 1936 | 170,177 | 2,704 | 80.2 | 19.8 | £2,753 |
| 1937 | 170,955 | 4,254 | 81.4 | 18.6 | £2,882 |
| 1938 | 242,661 | 5,946 | 81.3 | 18.7 | £4,240 |
[The figures in both these tables (except as to cost) include the supply made
through the Public Assistance Committee under the arrangement
referred to below.]