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
Kingston upon Thames 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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The following table gives details of the supply of infant food and dried milk during the period under review:-
| Amount in lbs. | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold, cost price and Sold, half price | 10,198 | 11,449 | 13,087 | 14,147 | 9,689 |
| Free of charge | 432 | 182 | 155 | 177 | 116 |
Reduced sales were due to the Ministry of Food Order of
the 25th. April, 1948, where by Mothers purchasing Proprietory
Infant Milk Foods have to forego the seven pints of priority
milk on the infant's ration book. Also National Dried Milk
is now available at the Clinics at 10½d. per tin, and many
Mothers obtain this.
(iii) Voluntary Workers at Welfare Clinics.
The Medical Officer of Health records special appreciation
of the help given by voluntary workers at the infant welfare
centres. Many workers have given years of devoted service in
various ways. Several have been regularly associated with
the work of the centres throughout nearly the whole time of
their existence, Many mothers have had good reason to be
thankful for their helpful presence, as also the nurses and
the doctors.
The following table indicates their activities in connection with the clothing stall instituted by them for the benefit of mothers.
| 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mothers who bought | 287 | 291 | 346 | 248 | 143 |
| No. of garments | 823 | 880 | 1,091 | 679 | 416 |
(iv) Institutional Treatment for Mothers and Children.
(a) There was no provision in the Borough for institutional
treatment for mothers and children, provided by the Corporation,
but private arrangements existed for the reception of expectant
unmarried mothers at the Kingston Deanery Home for Friendless
Girls, 18 Richmond Park Road. The Home was administered by
a voluntary body, the Kingston Deanery Moral Welfare Committee,
affiliated to the Southwark Diocesan Association for moral welfare.
There were nineteen beds. Admission was not confined to Kingston
residents, but was extended to girls residing anywhere in, or
occasionally beyond, the Southwark diocese. The expectant
mothers entered the home about two months before confinement,
which took place at Kingston County Hospital, and it was a
condition of their acceptance in the Deanery Home that they
stayed for at least two months after confinement, at the end of
which period efforts were made to secure for them suitable employment.