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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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41
The old premises at No. 127, Ladbroke Road, which contained three wards accommodating
twenty beds, were unsuitable for the purposes of a hospital. No. 1, Ladbroke Square is a
large non-basement corner-house, and is detached on three sides; it provides an isolation room,
good staff accommodation, a kitchen on every floor, an operating theatre, and sunny wards which
are capable of taking thirty-four beds.
In the Autumn the Committee of the Hospital made application to the Council for additional
grant in view of the increase in expenditure entailed in maintaining the new and larger institution.
The Council decided, however, to defer consideration of this request until the Ministry of Health
had determined the relationship between the Council and the Hospital under the Local
Government Act, 1929.
The transfer of the Hospital to the new premises took place in October, and the following figures include the work conducted on both the old and new premises:—
| Records for the year 1929:— | |
|---|---|
| Number of infants in residence at commencement of the year | 13 |
| Number of admissions during the year | 177 |
| Number of discharges during the year | 148 |
| Number of deaths during the year | 24 |
| Number in residence at end of the year | 18 |
| Average duration of stay in hospital | 69 days |
As in previous years the Council made a grant of £200 to the Authorities of the Hospital
towards the maintenance for a further period of twelve months of two beds therein, to be placed at
the disposal of the Infant Welfare Centres serving the Borough.
ARTIFICIAL SUNLIGHT TREATMENT.
(The Baby Clinic and Hospital).
During the past year, 4,948 treatments were conducted in the Light Department of the Baby
Clinic and Hospital, and the average weekly attendance was ninety-five. One hundred and fifty
new cases were treated.
In the Department, there are two Mercury Vapour Lamps, two Radiant Heat Lamps, and
one Long-Ray Red Lamp.
It has been found in most cases beneficial to have massage and rhythmic exercises carried
out together with the light treatment, and in a number of cases electrical treatment is given with
definite remedial exercises.
Several children, resident in Kensington, have been referred from Great Ormond Street
Children's Hospital, and from the Orthopaedic Department of Westminster Hospital for light
treatment and exercises, as well as a considerable number of children from the Infant Welfare
Centres serving the Borough.
Instruction to the mothers on the value of sunlight in general, has been given throughout
the year, and during the Summer months effective use was made of the excellent roof garden at
the Clinic.
The cases treated have been mostly children suffering from rickets, bronchitis, abdominal
tuberculosis, undernourishment and general debility following measles and whooping-cough.
The cases of rickets and debility following measles and whooping-cough have shown the most
marked improvement.
The usual course of treatment has been increased to an average of four months with exposures
twice a week, and it has been found more beneficial to have very short ultra-violet ray exposures
during the first half of the course. There is then an interval of four to six weeks and frequently
a second course of three months is given.