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
St Pancras 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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25
The medical officer of the above-mentioned special clinic is paid by the Borough Council.
He is assisted by a half-time nurse, who is paid from voluntary funds. * She made 1158 home
visits to children under five during the year. The other work of the Dispensary amongst
women and young children is supported from voluntary sources, and subsidised by the Ministry
of Health.
Supply of Food to Mothers, and Children under School Age.—The Council
continued during 1923 to make grants of milk, either free or at half-price, for the use of
expectant or nursing mothers and children under school age. As a rule the grants were
restricted to the last three months of pregnancy, and to children under three years of age.
The scale of income in use was as follows
| No. in. Family. | Free. | Half cost. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13s., after deduction of rent. | 15s., after deduction of rent. |
| 2 | 10s. per head, after deduction of rent. | 12s. 6d. per head, after deduction of rent. |
| 3 | 8s. „ „ | 10s. „ „ |
| 4 | 7s. | 8s. 6d. |
| 5 | 6s. 6d. „ „ | 8s. „ „ |
| 6 | 6s. „ „ | 7s. 6d. „ „ |
Families in receipt of less income than that indicated in the table would be entitled to
receive milk. The working of the scheme has been fully indicated in previous annual reports.
The extent of the distribution of milk in 1923 is shown in the following figures:-
| Pints of Milk Granted Free. | Pints of Milk Granted Half-price. | Cost to Council. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923. | £ | s. | d. | ||
| January | 12218 | 1408 | 215 | 7 | 4 |
| February | 11757 | 1406 | 207 | 13 | 4 |
| March | 12546 | 1266 | 219 | 13 | 0 |
| April | 10651 | 1108 | 140 | 1 | 3 |
| May | 10585 | 1062 | 138 | 19 | 0 |
| June | 10026 | 700 | 129 | 14 | 0 |
| July | 10064 | 516 | 129 | 0 | 6 |
| August | 9398 | 714 | 121 | 18 | 9 |
| September | 8672 | 662 | 113 | 2 | 9½ |
| October | 8849 | 972 | 136 | 2 | 8½ |
| November | 9056 | 1036 | 139 | 12 | 5 |
| December | 8864 | 832 | 154 | 13 | 4 |
| Total | 122686 | 11682 | 1845 | 18 | 5 |
At the end of 1922 there were 350 families in receipt of milk through the Council's
scheme. 471 new families were added to the list of recipients during 1923, and at the end
of 1923 there were 205 families in receipt of milk. As will be seen from the table above,
there were supplied in 1923, 122,686 pints of milk free and 11,682 pints at half-price, at a