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10
PROVISION OF MEALS.
Meals have been provided at the Council's Feeding Centres throughout the year.
On 17th April, 1939, the Council opened a fifth feeding centre with seating accommodation
for 250 in Percy Road, Kilburn. This Centre provides both breakfasts and dinners on seven days
a week. The Voluntary Feeding Centre in South Kilburn was closed when the Percy Road Centre
opened.
After approximately half the Willesden School Children were sent to reception areas at the end
of August and the Schools closed, the one-third of a pint of milk previously given in School to all
children receiving free meals was thereafter served in the feeding centres with the midday meal.
273,630 meals were supplied in 1939, as compared with 320,148 in 1938, 283,367 in 1937,
260,822 in 1936 and 249,509 in 1935.
The recipients of these meals are mainly children of the unemployed, widows and deserted
wives.
HOME NURSING SERVICE.
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 361 cases during the year, and in connection
with such cases paid 3,524 visits. 1,296 of these visits were paid in the Carlton Ward, 815 in
the Kilburn Ward, 305 in the Roundwood Ward, 293 in the Willesden Green Ward, 259 in the
Mapesbury Ward and smaller numbers in the other wards of Willesden.
Of the 361 cases nursed during the year, 349 were new cases. 305 of these 349 new cases were
referred by the Health Department for nursing, 12 by private doctors and 32 by Hospitals, Associations
and private persons.
Ophthalmia neonatorum received 151 visits and other ophthalmia cases 737 visits.
OUTBREAK OF WAR—REPORT ON SANITARY STAFF.
Prior to September, 1939, two members of the Sanitary Staff were used for Civil Defence duties
and on the outbreak of war most of the remaining Sanitary Staff were seconded for duties at Control
Room, Mortuaries, Lecturing on Anti-gas measures and Billeting.
All billets used in connection with A.R.P. and A.F.S. Posts, Military Billets and Billets for
Nursing and Medical Staffs were periodically inspected and, where necessary, action was taken to render
such billets clean and wholesome.
The following inspections were made from September to the end of the year:—

Disinfection of bedding for above: 897 articles—13 rooms.
Total number of visits in respect of the above—1,247.
With reference to Sanitary work, routine house-to-house inspections by the Sanitary Inspectors
were discontinued on the outbreak of war and inspections of offices, factories, food premises, etc.,
were much curtailed, only matters of an urgent nature receiving daily attention.
Meat Depot No. 14 was opened in Willesden Lane in September, 1939, inspections being made
twice daily of all meat received prior to distribution to traders in Willesden, Hampstead and
Paddington.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
124 bodies were deposited at the Mortuary during the year ending 31st December, 1939, as
follows:—3 Accommodations, 70 Post-Mortems, 13 Post-Mortems and Inquests, and 38 Inquests only.
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
During the year 6,906 calls were made for the Council's ambulances and 164,084 miles were run.
Approximately 250 defective children were on the lists for daily conveyance by the Council's
school ambulances to and from the special schools up to the outbreak of war when the Schools were
closed.
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL.
The 48th Annual Report on the Municipal Hospital, written by Dr. Troup, appears later in this
Report.
Your obedient Servant,
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.