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Town Hall,
Kensington, W. 8.
15th June, 1931.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Royal Borough of Kensington.
My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my annual report for 1930 upon the state of the public health in
Kensington.
The year has been a very satisfactory one. The statistics show that there has been a slight
increase in the birth rate, a material fall in the death rate and a considerable decrease in the infantile
mortality rate. There has been no epidemic of note during the year and the general health of the
inhabitants of the borough as a whole appears to have been good.
There has been an increase in the number of deaths from phthisis ; but, as is explained in the
section dealing with that disease, there is no cause for alarm in this respect, and it is confidently
hoped that the decrease in the mortality rate from this disease which has been so marked in recent
years will continue.
The three years' trial in Kensington of compulsory notification of acute rheumatism terminated
on the 30th September, 1930, but the Minister of Health has extended this trial for a further three
years. The third annual report on the Council's rheumatism scheme will be found as
" Appendix " to this Report.
During the year, the Council further extended their service in regard to the prevention and
treatment of infectious disease, and arrangements have been made to establish whooping cough
clinics at the Kenley Street Minor Ailment Centre and the Baby Clinic in Tavistock Road during
epidemic periods.
The Council also made arrangements for an extension of their maternity and child welfare
service by the establishment of an infant welfare centre on the Sutton Trust Estate in Dalgarno
Gardens.
The presentation of this report affords me an opportunity of expressing my appreciation
of the full measure of support which has been accorded to me by the Mayor, Aldermen and members
of the Council, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the various Committees, and of thanking the chief
officers of other departments for their willing help and the provision of much information contained
in this report. In conclusion, I desire to thank the staff of the Public Health Department for
their loyal and very efficient service throughout the year.