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It is gratifying to note the considerable decrease in the maternal mortality rate. The fact
that 66 per cent. of the expectant women in Kensington received some form of ante-natal advice
and care either at ante-natal clinics, hospitals, or from their own private practitioners must have had
some bearing on this satisfactory result; nevertheless, a death rate of 2.3 is too high and efforts
must be made to secure that every working-class expectant woman in Kensington receives the
advantage of that skilled advice which can be obtained from private medical practitioners or at
any of the nine ante-natal clinics in the borough.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
STAFF OF THE COUNCIL'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Medical Officers.—In addition to the Medical Officer of Health and the Tuberculosis Officer,
who are whole-time officers, the Council retain the part-time services of several medical men. Dr.
Remington Hobbs, Medical Superintendent of St. Mary Abbots Hospital, acts as consultant
gynaecologist in cases of puerperal fever and puerperal pyrexia; and Dr. Ronald Carter serves the
Council during the Summer months in connection with their scheme for the treatment of zymotic
enteritis.
Dr. T. S. Keith is bacteriologist to the Council; he is also pathologist to the London County
Council and honorary pathologist to the Princess Louise Kensington Hospital for Children.
In October, 1930, Dr. Reginald C. Lightwood resigned his appointment as physician-in-charge
of the Borough Council's Rheumatism Supervisory Centre, and Dr. Janet Aitken was appointed
to the position. In December, Dr. Hilda Stoessiger was appointed as honorary assistant to Dr.
Aitken.
Officers engaged on Vaccination.—The Local Government Act transferred to the Borough
Council on the 1st of April, 1930, all those functions hitherto performed by the Guardians in
relation to vaccination, and the Council resolved that the transferred officers should be allocated
to the Public Health Department.
Mr. A. H. Hinton is the vaccination officer for the borough and has his offices at No. 85a,
Ladbroke Grove, W.10, where he also carries out his duties as registrar of births and deaths
for North Kensington.
Dr. O. W. Roberts, of No. 79, Cambridge Gardens, W.10, is the public vaccinator for North
Kensington (surgery hours : 9.30 to 11 a.m., and 6 to 8.30 p.m.), and Dr. G. A. Henderson, of
No. 14a, Cromwell Crescent, S.W.5, is the public vaccinator for South Kensington (surgery hours:
10 to 11 a.m., and 6 to 7 p.m.).
Dr. Remington Hobbs has been appointed public vaccinator for the St. Mary Abbots Hospital,
Marloes Road, W.8, and Dr. B, Hood the public vaccinator for the St. Charles Hospital, Rackham
Street, W.10.
The record of work performed by these officers will be found in Table VI. of Appendix III.
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 March, 1930, one of the permanent sanitary inspectors was detailed for special housing
inspections under Section 3 of the Housing Act, 1925, which has now been replaced by Section 17
of the Housing Act, 1930.. and a temporary sanitary inspector has been employed to take charge
of one of the districts.
Food Inspector.—Mr. H. W. Walters, who holds the certificate of the London Sanitary
Inspectors' Examination Board and the certificate for Meat and Other Foods, carries out the
duties under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, the Rag Flock Acts, 1911 and 1927,
the Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924, and the various Acts and Orders dealing with milk.
Mr. Walters has also been appointed to enforce the requirements of the several Orders issued under
the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928, and the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.
Canal Boats Inspector.—Mr. R. J. McCarthy, one of the sanitary inspectors on the Council's
staff, was appointed in 1929 to carry out the inspection and supervision of canal boats in that length
of the Grand Junction Canal running through the northern portion of the borough.