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103
Assistance with Dentures, etc.
Ordinary extractions were made in 8 cases (all children); extractions with
local anaesthetic were made in 14 cases (all women), and with general anaesthetic
in 61 eases, including 33 children. Scalings were carried out in 8 cases (all
women). Small fillings were provided in 42 cases, including 25 children. Dentures
were provided for 18 patients, 13 were required to pay the whole cost, 3 contributed
towards the cost, and in the remaining 2 cases where the patients were
very poor the dentures were provided free. In 3 cases dentures were repaired
and dressings were given in 8 cases. In the provision of dentures the cost is based
on the charge approved for the time being for dentists on the Ministry of Tensions
Panel.
Supply of Milk and Food for Expectant and Nursing Mothers and for Infants.
The supply of milk and food at less than cost price was continued during the
year under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, for nursing mothers,
expectant mothers in the last three months of pregnancy, children up to three
years of age and, exceptionally, to children between three and five years of age.
Early in the year a communication was received from the Minister of Health
suggesting that, with a view to reducing the expenditure on the supply of milk,
the Council should reconsider the procedure adopted in dealing with applications
for milk at less than cost price so as to secure strict observations 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.
Prior to the receipt of this communication, it had been the practice of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee to make enquiries to ascertain whether
applicants for assistance were in receipt of Poor Law relief, also to refer to the
Guardians of the Poor applicants whose circumstances were such that they could
be dealt with adequately only through the machinery of the Poor Law. On receipt
of the communication the Committee gave instructions for the conditions as set
out by the Minister of Health to be strictly complied with.
A revision of the scale of income was also considered and the scale revised
to bring it into closer accord with the cost of living figure. The revised scale was
approved by the Minister of Health and came into operation in the middle of the
year.
All applications for milk free or at less than cost price are carefully investigated
and are considered by an Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee, meeting fortnightly for the purpose. Where grants
are made the cases are revised by the Sub-Committee at intervals not exceeding
one month.