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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough.
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69
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 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 334 applicants received free or assisted milk under the scheme.
This number included 147 who were receiving such assistance at the end of 1937.
Grants were made to 187 new applicants.
At the end of the year 1938, 169 applicants were receiving assistance, viz.:—
| Mothers. | Children. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free milk | 31 | 107 | 138 |
| Dried milk | — | 10 | 10 |
| Colact | 21 | — | 21 |
| 52 | 117 | 169 |
The following table shows in detail how the 187 new applicants were assisted in 1938:—
| Milk. | Dried Milk. | Colact. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free. | Part Cost. | Free. | Part Cost. | Free. | Part Cost. | |
| Expectant mothers | 36 | 5 | — | — | 19 | 3 |
| Nursing mothers | 19 | 6 | — | — | 15 | 7 |
| Children | 58 | 7 | 11 | 1 | — | — |
Provision of Meals for Necessitous Expectant and Nursing Mothers.
In July, 1937, the Council approved arrangements for the provision of meals
for necessitous expectant and nursing mothers.
The number of meals provided during 1938 was as follows:—
| No. of Mothers. | No. of Meals. | |
|---|---|---|
| Part Cost. | Free. | |
| 6 | — | 313 |
Home Help.
The Council's Home Helps attended 17 cases during the year.
All applications for the services of the Home Help are considered by the
Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.