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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 889 (milk),
154 (cod liver oil) and 72 (dinners). This assistance
which is only granted while the schools are open, is
surprisingly small in view of the widespread poverty
in the Borough. Another 12,000 children obtained
milk at school upon payment.
Economic enquiries made in connection with
applications for various Maternity and Child Welfare
services continue to indicate that a very large portion
of the population is living at an extremely low level.
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE.
During the financial year 1933-34, the cost of the
Public Health service was £26,254, or 5s. 1d. per head
of the population, equivalent to a rate of 1s. 1d. in
the £.
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
Borough Council is the Maternity and Child Welfare
authority, but at 4 or 5 years of age the children come
under the jurisdiction of the L.C.C. as the School
Medical authority. When young persons leave school
and enter industry, they come under the health