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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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| Number of beds available for male adults | 188 | |
| Number of beds available for female adults | 306 | |
| Number of adult admissions during the year ended 31st December, 1930 (including 144 admissions under the Borough Council maternity scheme) | 3,969 | |
| Average daily number of adult admissions | 10.8 | |
| Number of beds available for children | 115 | |
| Types of cases (children) admitted | All types, except infectious cases which are passed on to the fever hospitals. | |
| Number of children's admissions during the year ended 31st December, 1930 | 1,080 | |
| Births (including 142 births in the Borough Council maternity ward) | 480 | |
| 1,560 | ||
| Average daily number of children's admissions | 4.27 | |
| Last ascertained cost per head at St. Mary Abbots Hospital | 6s. 2.24d. per day. | |
| Out-door Relief. | ||
| Number of cases receiving out-door medical treatment during the year ended 31st December, 1930 | North District (North of Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park Avenue) 1,044 | |
| South District (South of Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park Avenue) 175 | ||
| Total 1,219 | ||
LEGISLATION IN FORCE LOCALLY.
Notification of Zymotic Enteritis.
At a meeting of the Council on the 15th April, 1924, it was resolved:—
"That this Council do, under and pursuant to the provisions of Section 56 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, hereby order that Section 55 of the said Act, with respect to the notification of
infectious disease, shall apply in their district to epidemic diarrhoea or zymotic enteritis in the case of
infants up to 5 years of age."
The order was approved by the Minister of Health on the 22nd April, 1924, and came into
operation on the 1st July of that year.
With the information secured by compulsory notification it was possible to take effective steps
in regard to prevention and treatment of the disease, and in 1924 the Council approved of a scheme
for this purpose.
A detailed report on notification and treatment of zymotic enteritis will be found on page 72.
Notification of Acute Rheumatism.
The Kensington (Acute Rheumatism) Regulations, 1927, came into force on the 1st October,
of that year and operated for a period of three years. During the year 1930, the Minister of Health
renewed the regulations for a further period of three years.
In 1927, the Council established a Rheumatism Supervisory Centre and details of the work
conducted thereat will be found on page 18 and in Appendix I. of this report.
Bye-law Prohibiting the Fouling of Footpaths by Dogs.
In 1921, the Council made a bye-law, which was sanctioned by the Home Office, prohibiting
the fouling of footpaths by dogs.
Particulars in regard to the enforcement of this bye-law will be found on page 30
GENERAL HOSPITAL.
Although Kensington may be regarded as a central London borough, it is curious that there
is only one general hospital within the borough boundary, namely, the Kensington, Fulham and
Chelsea General Hospital. There are, however, the West London Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital
and St. George's Hospital just outside the borough.