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18
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
In Circular No. 648, the Minister of Health has requested that the Report for 1925 shall give
a review of the Health Services operating within the area. In the case of a Metropolitan Borough
such a review cannot be a complete statement of all the services which are available to the residents,
for many seek aid from institutions and organisations beyond the Borough boundaries. For
example, large numbers of Kensington patients attend the West London and St. George's Hospitals,
many attend those in the central area of London, some actually attend the London Hospital in the
East End and the Fever Hospitals in every area of the Metropolis do from time to time accommodate
Kensington patients.
As it is the Minister's intention that each Medical Officer of Health shall report on the services
in his area, this report will be limited to an account of those actually within Kensington.
STAFF OF THE COUNCIL'S PUBLJC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Medical Officers.—No change in the medical staff of the Public Health Department
occurred during the year.
Male Sanitary Inspectors.—The normal staff is ten District Inspectors. For the
purposes of sanitary inspection, the Borough is divided into ten districts, one of which is allotted
to each of the ten inspectors, who carry out duties under the Public Health Acts, the Housing
Acts, the London County Council (General Powers) Acts and, so far as men's factories and workshops
are concerned, under the Factory and Workshop Act.
Mr. Henry Dawes, who is the Sanitary Inspector for No. 10 District (Brompton area), holds
the position of Senior Sanitary Inspector in accordance with the requirements of Section 7 of the
Public Health (Officers) Act, 1921. In addition to his ordinary work as a District Inspector, he
carries out special duties under the Rag Flock Act and under the Milk (Special Designations) Order.
The Council employ two temporary Sanitary Inspectors, who have been engaged during the
past three years in the inspection, measuring up and registration of Houses Let in Lodgings, and
in issuing the necessary Sanitary Notices required to bring these houses up to the standard of
habitability decided upon by the Council.
A summary of the work of the Sanitary Inspectors will be found on pages 28 to 30, columns la,
4a, 5a and 6a in each table representing the work of the temporary officers.
In April, 1925, the Public Health (Meat) Regulations came into operation and the Council
appointed a special Officer to carry out the duties required by the regulations. This Officer, who
holds the Certificate of the Sanitary Inspectors' Examination Board and the Meat Inspectors'
Certificate, also carries out the duties under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts which, previous to
his appointment, were performed by the District Sanitary Inspectors.
Women Health Officers.—There are nine ladies appointed as Women Health Officers.
Seven are engaged in the work of visiting mothers of the poorer classes and advising them in the
care and management of their infants, and in assisting with the work of the seven Infant Welfare
Centres. They also devote a portion of their time to the inspection of factories and workshops
where women are employed, and in visiting cases of ophthalmia, enteritis, measles, whooping cough
and consumption. Two Women Health Officers (Miss Hargrave and Miss Haycock) are employed
on in-door work at the Dispensary.
Clerical Staff.—There are eight clerks in the Public Health Department.
Mr E. R. Hill, Chief Clerk in the Public Health Department, died on the 13th January, 1925,
after a brief illness. Mr. Hill had been in the service of the Council for a period of over 36 years
and discharged his duties with ability and zeal. In addition to performing the work attached to
the position of Chief Clerk in the Department, he had been responsible for many years for the
compilation of the statistics and the preparation of the tables which appear in my Annual, Monthly
and other Reports.
Mr. Hill's position was filled by the appointment of Mr. J. H. Wilson as Chief Clerk.
Mr. Wilson has been in the service of the Council as a clerk in the Public Health Department
since 1902.
Other Staff.—There are:—
(a) Five Disinfectors, including a man who acts as engineer.
(b) A Mortuary Keeper.
(c) A Sanitary Labourer who assists in drain testing.
(d) A Superintendent and Matron of the Medicinal Baths.
(e) A Rat Officer.