Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
This page requires JavaScript
80
It is, of course, inevitable that some delay will result in sending
out the orders should applications have to wait for consideration
until Committee meetings are held.
(6) The scale of income for determining necessity has been
adopted by the Council as follows:—
Families with an income per head of
10s. and upwards, full price.
9s to 10s., 75 per cent.
8s. to 9s., 50 per cent.
7s. to 8s., 25 per cent.
Under 7s., Free.
Arising out of my report to the Committee that in 15
Boroughs of London rent is deducted before calculating income
per head and that in five Boroughs there is no fixed scale, each
case being considered on its merits, the Committee decided that,
where circumstances warranted, the Medical Officer should be
authorised to deduct rent and other special expenses before calculating
the amount of money left per head for the purchase of
food.
This arrangement obviated the necessity for a sliding scale,
and, in fact, it was considered to be more economical by the
Committee than to adopt a recommendation applying to every
case that rent and other outgoings should be deducted. It isnecessary
to submit this scale for approval to the Ministry, and1
I would suggest that the Ministry be asked to approve the present
scale and adopted recommendation.
(7) An enquiry as advised by the Ministry, into the financial
circumstances of each applicant for milk at less than cost price
is made in every case, the particulars being hitherto filled in by
the Health Visitor. The Ministry wish the application to be
made on a printed form signed by both parents, and that persons
making fraudulent application should be prosecuted.