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The work carried out is very valuable and there is no doubt that the Raymede Massage Centre
is meeting a serious need in North Kensington. There is no institution in that part of the Borough
where poor persons can obtain this special form of treatment except the Archer Street Infant
Welfare Centre, where a limited amount of massage is performed. When the new Princess Louise
Kensington Hospital for Children is opened the question will then arise as to continuing the work
at this Centre, but for the present this institution is worthy of support.
KENSINGTON MATERNITY HOME.
The Kensington Maternity Home was opened in 1924 and consists of a detached ward of ten
beds in the southern portion of the grounds of St. Mary Abbot's Hospital. The Home is available
for married women of all classes whose home conditions are not suitable for their confinement or
who cannot afford to pay the fees charged in private nursing homes.
The medical and nursing personnel, the food and other necessities are supplied by the Guardians.
For services, etc. rendered, the Borough Council pay 5s. per day for each maternity case admitted
and they also pay the cost of any additional medical or nursing staff which the Guardians may
find it necessary to employ. Details of the scheme, which has been approved by the Ministry of
Health, are as follow :—
Admission of Patients.
Expectant mothers attending Kensington Infant Welfare Institutions make application for
admission to the Maternity Home to the Sister at the Infant Welfare Centre they attend.
Expectant mothers not in attendance at Infant Welfare Institutions must make application
at a Welfare Centre or apply to the Medical Officer of Health, Town Hall, Kensington, W.8.
After the printed application form has been filled in, the patient is referred to the ante-natal
doctor at the Infant Welfare Centre of the area in which she resides for report and recommendation.
The ante-natal doctor makes observations in the space provided on the application form, and, after
such further enquiries as are indicated, the form is sent to the Medical Officer of Health. Any
patient who does not desire to attend a Welfare Centre can have the ante-natal report filled in by
her own physician. After review by the Medical Officer of Health the applications are placed
before the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee who recommend admission to the Home in
suitable cases.
When the application is accepted, the patient is notified by letter that a bed will be available
for her at or about the time of her expected confinement. Other particulars in regard to admission
are forwarded to her at the same time. The Sister of the Welfare Institution is also informed and
asked to assist the mother in making preparations to enter the Home.
Charges.
The following is the scale of maximum fees payable, but in each case the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee consider the circumstances of the family and make such reduction of the fees
as the financial position of the family indicates to be necessary or desirable.