London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1926
The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1926
This page requires JavaScript
68
Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
During the year the Council undertook to pay for artificial pneumothorax treatment in two
cases and payments to Brompton Hospital amounted to £\2 1s. 6d.
Home Nursing.
The arrangements made by the Council for nursing in the homes of the poor to be carried
out by the Kensington District Nursing Association provides for the home nursing of tuberculosis.
The Association is represented upon the Tuberculosis Care Committee and in this manner
provision is made for co-operation between the two bodies.
The cases of tuberculosis attended and the visits paid by the Nurses of the Association during the past five years are shown in the following table:—
| Year. | Cases. | Visits. |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 41 | 996 |
| 1923 | 39 | 638 |
| 1924 | 35 | 575 |
| 1925 | 36 | 614 |
| 1926 | 34 | 987 |
The nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated by the poor.
Supply of Extra Nourishment to Tuberculous Persons.
Applications for the supply of extra nourishment to tuberculous persons are dealt with by
the Tuberculosis Care Committee. In the administration of this assistance the principle that
temporary assistance only shall be given is followed.
The assistance given is generally one pint of milk and one new-laid egg daily and usually covers a
period of one month, the patients having to make an application for the renewal of the grant if
desired.
The following are particulars of the nourishment granted during 1926 :—
| Number of patients assisted | 5 | |
| Number of renewals of grants issued | 2 | |
| Number of pints of milk granted. | Number of eggs granted. | |
| 80 | 80 | |
| Estimated cost to the Council of nourishment granted during the year | £1 19s. 0d. | |
Arrangements for "Care" and "After-Care."
In July, 1922, the Council approved a proposal for the constitution of a Borough Tuberculosis
Care Committee, and this Committee, which commenced its activities in December of that year,
undertook the whole of the "care" and "after-care" work in the Borough.
The constitution and membership of the Committee during the past year were as follow :—
(1) Borough Council—Councillor Mr. J. T. Saunders, Chairman of the Public Health
Committee, Councillor Miss Drysdale and Councillor Miss Hayne.
(2) London County Council—Dr. A. W. Sikes, Divisional Medical Officer and Miss
G. M. S. Paddon, District Organiser of School Care Committees.
(3) Kensington School Care Committees—Miss A. Webster.
(4) Kensington Invalid Children's Aid Association—Miss Burton and Miss M. H. Joseph.
(5) Kensington Charity Organisation Society—Mrs. E. Weber and Miss O. A. Nixon.
(6) Brompton Hospital—Miss L. C. Marx, Lady Almoner.
(7) Kensington Board of Guardians—Lady Mellor.
(8) Kensington District Nursing Association—Miss Gibbes.
(9) Kensal House School—Miss C. D. Clay.
(10) London Insurance Committee—Dr. H. H. Mills.
(11) Panel Committee for the County of London—Dr. A. K. Barrett and Dr. A. S. Herbert.
(12) British Red Cross Society—Mrs. Burne M.B.E., and Miss Forbes.
(13) British Red Cross Society (Emergency Help Committee)—Miss C. Keeling, J.P.
(14) United Services Fund—Miss M. Pickton.
(15) Ex-officio members—The Medical Officer of Health, Tuberculosis Officer and two
Women Health Officers.
The Committee have met fortnightly during the year, and the attendance of members has been
well maintained.
Every new case of tuberculosis coming to notice is allocated for social welfare purposes to a
member of the Committee, whose duty it is to report as necessary in regard to those patients for the
supervision of whom she has accepted responsibility.