View report page

10
It should be explained that so far as the foregoing
figures for Bethnal Green Hospital are concerned these
only relate to persons in receipt of "public assistance"
and do not include the patients treated there as a
general hospital. The complete figures for Bethnal
Green Hospital are given later.
I am informed by the Education Officer that the
average number of necessitous school children provided
with meals of some kind during the year was 808 (milk),
163 (cod liver oil) and 74 (dinners). This assistance
which is only granted while the schools are open, shows
some increase on the previous year, but is surprisingly
small in view of the widespread poverty in the Borough.
Economic enquiries made in connection with
applications for various Maternity and Child Welfare
services indicate that a very large portion of the population
is living at an extremely low level.
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE.
During the financial year 1932-33, the cost of the
Public Health service was £26,179, or 5s. Od. per head
of the population, equivalent to a rate of 1s. 1d. in
the £. These figures differ from those in earlier years
owing to the fact that there is now no specific Government
Grant for Public Health work, which in 1929-30
amounted to £6,262. The present block grant is not
earmarked to any particular service.
THE HEALTH SERVICES IN THE BOROUGH.
The Borough Council is recognised by statute as
the local health authority, but many important health
services are still outside its jurisdiction and indeed
health functions are exercised by an extraordinary
diversity of agencies. The number of these agencies
has been somewhat reduced by recent legislation, but
there seems much need for further simplification. The