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156 children were admitted during the year, and the average length of stay in the Home
was about 4 weeks.
(b) Children requiring a longer period of convalescence, or who require more skilled
nursing, are sent to various homes by the Invalid Children's Aid Association, and a contribution
towards the cost is made by the Borough Council. Under this scheme 36 children were sent
away during the year.
Supply of Milk to Mothers and Children.
The Borough Council during the year continued to make grants of milk, either free or
at reduced price. As a rule, in the case of expectant mothers, the grants were restricted to
the last three months of pregnancy, and in the case of children to those who were under three
years of age.
Towards the end of the year it was considered that there might be an appreciable
amount of overlapping between the Public Assistance Department of the London County
Council through their relief work and the Borough Council's scheme for the supply of milk,
and inquiries showed that in a number of cases grants from the Borough scheme were
made to cases known to be in receipt of relief.
In October, 1931, after careful revision of the situation, the Welfare Centres were
reminded of the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health. These stated, inter alia, that
"milk should be given only where the Medical Officer of Health (or in certain cases the
Medical Officer of the Centre) is satisfied that a supply is essential on the grounds of
health . . . and "it is the first principle of administration that overlapping with
other bodies concerned in the matter should be absolutely avoided."
It appears to be probable that during recent years the question of health as the sole
basis for a grant of milk has not been adhered to, and that purely financial reasons have
been considered. This financial problem is the province of the Public Assistance Committee
and not the Child Welfare Authority.
It was, therefore, decided to work the scheme in closer co-operation with the Public
Assistance Officers, and to adhere strictly to the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health.
The rules are definite. All applications for grants of milk for children and nursing or
expectant mothers as defined above must be based upon the necessity on the grounds of health,
no matter to which authority, London County Council or Borough Council, the case is
referred. Where a family is in receipt of relief, the application should be made by the
Medical Officer of the Welfare or Ante-Natal Centre directly to the Public Assistance Committee
on the forms provided. Where the family is not in receipt of relief, the application
is considered by the Special (Milk) Sub Committee of the Borough Council. Grants are
made, either free or at half price, in accordance with an approved scale of income. Information
is exchanged between the authorities concerned, and a considerable amount of overlapping has
been abolished.
At the end of 1930 there were 230 families actually in receipt of milk under the
Borough scheme. During 1931, 484 new families were added to the list of recipients. By
the end of that vear there were 172 families receiving grants.
The total cost of this
scheme in 1929 was £1,149; in 1930, £1,330; and in 1931, £1,414.