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
Merton 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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ANCILLARY SERVICES
1. Nursery Schools/Classes
There were 785 children attending the nursery schools and nursery
classes at infants' schools during the year.
2. Provision of Milk and Meals
The following table gives details of milk and meals supplied together with the percentage of pupils partaking, compared with 1970:—
| Year | Number in attendance | Taking Milk | Taking Meals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage | Free | Paid | Total | Percentage | ||
| September, 1970 | 22,999 | 12,368 | 93.0 | 1,294 | 15,536 | 16,830 | 73.1 |
| 13,285 | |||||||
| September, 1971 | 23,880 | 6,371 | 96.8 | 1,594 | 12,422 | 14,016 | 58.6 |
| †6,575 | |||||||
*Number in attendance entitled to milk (i.e., pupils in Primary and Middle
Schools).
†This figure reflects the position after the withdrawal of free school milk
from pupils aged seven years and over, those who continued to receive
it free for a time afterwards being at primary schools only.
By the end of 1971, 657 children over the age of seven years,
had been assessed by Medical Officers and of these, 440 had been
assessed as requiring free school milk on health grounds, subject to
review at the end of one year. Some of these children were attending
middle schools.
These assessments were carried out in compliance with the Local
Education Authority's decision to supply free milk to pupils aged
between 7 and 11 years who were found, as a result of assessment,
to require it on health grounds.
In addition to these special assessments, when pupils over seven
years of age are seen by School Medical Officers at routine medical
inspections, the need for free school milk, where it is warranted on
health grounds for any particular pupil, is assessed.
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