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36
The arrangements for administering the Scheme are as follows:—
Applications for Grants.—Applicants for grants are referred to the Town Hall by, amongst others,
medical practitioners, the staffs of the welfare centres, the health visitors, relieving officers, maternity
and general hospitals and various public and charitable institutions.
Procedure.—Before any case is considered the Medical Officer of Health must be satisfied that
the supply is necessary on grounds of health. In the case of an expectant mother the existence and
duration of pregnancy must be verified by the signature of a doctor or midwife.
The quantity of milk authorised varies with the need of the mother or infant concerned. Usually,
one pint per day is granted to an expectant mother and to a nursing mother, unless she be nursing
twins, when up to one quart is allowed. The bottle-fed baby, also, normally has the same quantity
up to about the sixth month of its age, but thereafter this is increased to l½ or 2 pints per day when
the necessity is certified by the medical officer of a Welfare Centre.
The "Grants" Sub-Committee now make a practice of insisting on the attendance periodically
of the infants on grant at one or other of the welfare centres and the issue of at least one medical
certificate of necessity every three months.
Applications are made at the Public Health Department, when particulars of the circumstances
of the family are obtained. Whenever considered necessary, wages, etc., are verified from the
employer, and other enquiries instituted by the investigation officer. Close touch is also maintained
with all other sources of assistance.
All new cases are considered by the "Grants" Sub-Committee, and in addition expiring grants
are brought forward for re-consideration, together with a report by the health visitor on the condition
of the mother or child in receipt of the grant and a note by the investigation officer dealing with
financial or other circumstances at that juncture. Generally, renewals are made for four weeks,
discretion being given to the investigation officer to issue orders up to that period for one, two or three
weeks as he may consider advisable. Pending a sitting of the "Grants" Sub-Committee the Medical
Officer of Health may authorise emergency grants.
Grants take one or other of the following forms:—
(a) Fresh Milk—to expectant or nursing mother or a child under 5 years of age (see
first paragraph) on an order issued on the dairyman usually supplying the family;
(b) Dried Milk—supplied at the Welfare Centre attended by the infant;
(c) Dinners (cut from joint, two vegetables and milk pudding)—to expectant or
nursing mother partaken at approved restaurant;
(d) Accessory Foods—Oil and malt, etc.
The necessary orders are despatched direct to the tradesman and a copy sent or handed to the
grantee. On the grantee's copy the following conditions are printed:—
Milk supplied under this order is to be used only for the mother or child to whom the
milk has been granted. It is not to be given to other members of the family.
The Medical Officer of Health should be informed at once if there be:—
(1) Any change whatever in workplace or income of any member of the family;
(2) Any change of address;
(3) Any assistance received from the Relieving Officer.
Particulars of Milk Grants During 1935.
(1934 figures in brackets.)
The total number of cases considered by the "Grants" Sub-Committee during the year was 2,813,
of which 767 represented new applications. These latter were divided up as follows:—
Number of
New Applications.
Fresh Milk 673 (744)
Dried Milk 87 (118)
Dinners 7 ( 5)
767 (867)
Granted.
582 (579)
87 (118)
7 (5)
676 (702)
Refused, withdrawn or referred
to Public Assistance Committee.
91 (165)
- (-)
-(-)
91 (165)