London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1924

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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26
Council, £46 by the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund, and £9 10s. by the Hospital Saturday
Fund. Besides these sums, £16 12s. 6d. was raised by Voluntary Societies (mostly through
the C.O.S.) towards helping necessitous cases; nine mothers paid the whole cost of two
dentures themselves, i.e., £4 each, and seven mothers paid for one denture, i.e., £2 each. One
mother paid £6 6s. for a special set of dentures. In addition to these payments for new
dentures, the mothers paid £5 for repairs and additions to old dentures.
The Dentist (Mrs. Murch, L.D.S.) and her staff are to be congratulated on the above
record of valuable work. That this Clinic is appreciated is shewn by the steadily increasing
number of attendances, in fact the numbers now are too great to be dealt with at the two weekly
consultations, which must therefore be increased during the coming year.
Dental treatment is also provided at the voluntary clinic at the St. Pancras School for
Mothers (see page 22). The Centres held in connection with the University College and
Royal Free Hospitals are also able to refer cases to their own dental departments.
Clinic for Sick Mothers, and Children under School Age.—A weekly clinic
is held by Dr. F. L. Provis at the St. Pancras Dispensary, 39, Oakley Square. To this
patients are referred from the Town Hall, from the welfare centres, by the health visitors, etc.
During 1921 new cases under five years of age numbered 312, ailing mothers 37, and
expectant mothers (new cases) 59. The total attendances at this clinic were 1236 of children
under five, 152 of ailing mothers, and 95 of expectant mothers. The corresponding figures for
the Dispensary as a whole (including Dr. Provis' clinic, but not the tuberculosis department)
were:—children under five: new cases, 898; attendances, 3593; ailing mothers and expectant
mothers: new cases, 107; attendances, 298.
The Dispensary Resident Medical Officer also made 1180 home visits to sick children
under five.
The Medical Officer of the above-mentioned Special Clinic is paid by the Borough
Council. He is assisted by a Nurse (half-time), who is paid from voluntary funds. During the
year the Nurse made 1097 visits to the homes of children under five. The other work of the
Dispensary amongst women and young children is supported by funds from voluntary sources,
and is also subsidised by the Ministry of Health.
Supply of Food to Mothers, and Children under School Age.—The Council
continued during 1924 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.
113s., after deduction of rent.15s., after deduction of rent.
210s. per head, after deduction of rent.12s. 6d. per head, after deduction of rent.
38s. „ „10s. „ „
47s. ,, „8s. 6d. „ „
56s. 6d. „ „8s. „ „
66s. „ „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.