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
Holborn 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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104
Mothers.
Children.
Total.
Free milk 45 77 122
Half price milk 4 11 15
Prepared milk — 3 3
49 91 140
The following table shows new cases assisted in 1927: —
| Milk. | Prepared Milk. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free. | Part Cost. | Free. | Part Cost. | |
| Expectant Mothers | 21 | 1 | — | — |
| Nursing Mothers | 35 | 6 | — | — |
| Children | 66 | 9 | 12 | 7 |
Early in the year 1928, a communication was received from the Ministry of Health
suggesting that with a view to reducing the expenditure on the supply of milk during the
year 1928-1929, the Council should reconsider the procedure adopted in dealing with
applications for milk at less than cost price, so as to secure strict observance of the
following conditions:—
(1) Milk to be supplied by the Council solely on medical grounds and not to be supplied
to applicants who are already in receipt of Poor Law Relief; applicants whose circumstances
are such that they can only be dealt with adequately through the machinery of the Poor
Law to be referred to the Guardians.
(2) Every applicant for milk to be seen in the first instance by the Medical Officer of
Health or the Medical Officer of the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre and no applicant
to be considered unless the Medical Officer furnishes the certificate that a supply is essential
on grounds of health. /
(3) The scale of income to be revised to bring it into accord with the fall in the index
figure of the cost of living since the existing scale was framed.
(4) The Council to be satisfied that they are obtaining supplies of milk at prices which
bear adequate relation to the quantities of milk distributed by them.
At the date of the preparation of this report steps are being taken by the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee to give effect to the suggestions of the Minister of Health as set
out above.
Home Help.
The Council's Home Help attended 21 cases during the year in comparison
with 25 in the year 1926. In 10 of these the whole-time officer attended entirely
and in 9 she attended during the earlier part of the lying-in period, being replaced
later by one of the Home Helps from the emergency panel in order to take over
new cases. In 2 cases emergency Home Helps only were employed. The latter
were engaged when more than one case occurred at the same tin e and during the
summer vacation and sick leave.