London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
76
In three cases where the patients were very poor the denture was provided free
of charge; contributions towards the cost were required in all other cases and in five
instances the patients were required to pay the whole cost.
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.
During the year 313 applicants received free or assisted milk under the scheme.
This number included 157 who were receiving such assistance at the end of 1932.
Grants were made to 156 new applicants.
At tho end of the year 1933, 162 applicants were receiving assistance, viz. :
| Mother. | Children. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free milk | 32 | 120 | 152 |
| Half-price milk | — | 1 | 1 |
| Prepared milk | — | 9 | 9 |
| 32 | 130 | 162 |
The following table shows in detail how the 150 new applicants were assisted in 1933: —
| Milk. | Prepared Milk. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free. | Part Cost. | Free. | Part Cost. | |
| Expectant mothers | 41 | - | - | - |
| Nursing mothers | 23 | - | - | - |
| Children | 72 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
Home Help.
The Council's Home Helps attended 24 cases during the year in comparison
with 19 in the year 1932. In four of these the whole-time officer attended entirely
and in nine 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 11 cases an emergency Home Help only was employed.
Up to the 5th August the emergency Home Helps were engaged when more than
one case occurred at the same time and during the absence of the Home Help on
summer vacation and sick leave. Early in August the whole-time Home Help
resigned and she was replaced from August 5th onward by a panel of part-time
Home Helps. The new arrangement has worked very well; a small saving has
been effected.
All applications for the services of the Home Help are considered by the
Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
In nine cases of extreme necessity the services of the Home Help were
granted free. In all other cases the applicants were required to contribute towards
the cost, contributions ranging from 2s. 6d. per week up to the full cost. The
services of the Home Help have been much appreciated; it has been found that the
Council's provision meets a much felt want in the Borough.