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53
It is unfortunate that caterers who use the Town Hall Canteen are to be
bewildered by the conflict between Municipal precept without and Municipal
practice within; but they are fortunate indeed in that they are spared the
responsibility of making the difficult decision whether to use a "sanitising
detergent "or a "detergent sanitiser Whichever it be, they can at least
rely on the fact that their choice is likely to be confirmed by high-powered
sales talk and by advertisements that speak well of the preparation chosen.
On the last day of the year the Ministry of Health circulated to Regional
Hospital Boards and Hospital Management Committees a Circular—H.M. (54)
118—stated to be
"Intended for the guidance of staff who are concerned with the sterilisation
of equipment and other materials used in the treatment and care of hospital
patients. The Minister accordingly asks Boards and Committees to review their
present practice and suggests that they should be brought to the attention
of all staff concerned."
On the first page of the Circular are the authoritative statements that
" Heat is the safest and most effective method of sterilisation ;"
and that
" Sterilisation by chemicals should be used only where heat
is not available or is impracticable."
TOWN HALL BASEMENT KITCHEN
In order to complete the survey of catering establishments, which
had been discontinued owing to shortage of staff, a special inspection was
made of the catering arrangements for old people in the Town Hall Basement
Kitchen.
Nature and Scope of Service.
The present arrangements for the supply of meals to old people in the
basement kitchen of the Town Hall are the outcome of a pioneering charitable
activity initiated by Alderman J. B. Shimmin during his Mayoralty in 1932.
The scheme is now administered by the Borough of Leyton Council of
Social Service, of which Mrs. A. M. Clewer is Chairman and Honorary
Organiser of the Canteen Committee.
Each Tuesday and Thursday there are cooked in the kitchen some
100 mid-day dinners, of which about 50 are consumed on the premises and
approximately 50 are delivered in metal containers to individual homes.
The price charged for dinners consumed on the premises is 3d. per
meal, and for meals delivered at home the charge is 6d.
The service is available to old persons recommended by the staff of the
Health Department, local medical practitioners, home nurses, ministers of
religion, charitable institutions, etc. Mrs. Clewer works in close liaison with
the health visitors and home helps organiser of the Health Department and
the meals service for old people should be regarded as a valuable ancillary
to the work of the Health Department.