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
Kensington 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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35
It is a rule of the Nursing Association and of the Golborne Centre Committee that their staff
shall carry out home nursing only in those cases where there is a medical man in attendance. It
requires little thought to realise the importance of this rule and the serious consequences which
might result if nurses did consent to deal with cases without medical supervision.
In observing this important principle, difficulty has arisen in certain cases where the patient's
family, being too poor to obtain private medical assistance, have sent for the nurse. This difficulty
has now been removed by an arrangement under which the Relieving Officer, on receipt of a
telephone message from one of the Council's Health Officers, or a nurse of the Association, or the
Golborne Centre, will immediately secure the services of one of the Guardians' District Medical
Officers. By this arrangement no case in the Borough need go without prompt and skilled
medical attention.
SUPPLY OF EXTRA NOURISHMENT TO MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
The distribution of extra nourishment to mothers and children is part of the Council's
Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme, but at the suggestion of the Ministry of Health the record
of the work done is given under the "Food Supply" section of this report and will be found on
page 49.
GRANTS TO MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE INSTITUTIONS PAID BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1923.
| £ | s. | d. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Archer Street Infant Welfare Centre | 104 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Bramley Road „ „ „ (with Kenley Street Branch) | 259 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Campden Hill „ „ „ | 79 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Earl's Court „ „ „ | 104 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Golborne „ „ „ | 176 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Lancaster Road „ „ ,, | 154 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Raymede „ „ „ | 154 | 0 | 0 | |
| Evelyn Convalescent Cottage Home | 16 | 16 | 0 | |
| Hambledon Cottage Home | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
| The Ladbroke Road Baby Hospital | 200 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Kensington District Nursing Association | 200 | 0 | 0 | |
These grants have been sanctioned by the Minister of Health, with the result that 50 per cent,
will be refunded to the Council by the Government in all except the last mentioned, in respect of
which the Government's contribution is £50.
GRANT TO HOSPITALS, ETC.
In addition to the above mentioned grants, the Council gave the following subscriptions during the year.
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| West London Hospital | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Kensington and Fulham General Hospital | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| St. Mary's Hospital | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Paddington Green Children's Hospital | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Kensington Dispensary and Children's Hospital | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Kensal Gospel and Medical Mission | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Chelsea Hospital for Women | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Brompton Hospital for Consumption | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Kensington District Nursing Association | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Western Ophthalmic Hospital | 5 | 5 | 0 |
These subscriptions are not strictly in respect of Maternity and Child Welfare work, but this
is the most suitable place in this Report in which to record them. The sanction of the Ministry
of Health is not applied for in respect of these subscriptions and no Government contribution is
received.
HOSPITAL LETTERS.
In return for subscriptions, the Council receive a number of hospital letters which entitle
patients to treatment. In addition, many private subscribers make a practice of forwarding their
letters to the Town Hall, knowing that they will be distributed to the most needy people by the
Council's Health Officers, who have an intimate knowledge of the poor.
The number of hospital letters issued to Kensington poor people during the year by officers of
the Public Health Department was 510, and in each case careful enquiry was made in order to
make certain that the patient was a deserving one.