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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42
KENSINGTON MATERNITY HOME.
The Kensington Maternity Home was opened in 1924 and consists of a detached ward of ten
beds in the southern portion of the grounds of St. Mary Abbots Hospital. The home is available
for married women of all classes whose home conditions are not suitable for their confinement and
who cannot afford to pay the fees charged in private nursing homes.
| 1926. | 1927. | 1928. | 1929. | 1930. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of applications for admission | 135 | 143 | 185 | 177 | 164 |
| No. of applications accepted | 134 | 137 | 170 | 162 | 158 |
| No. of applications withdrawn after acceptance | 4 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
| No. of women confined during the year | 123 | 126 | 143 | 141 | 142 |
The gross cost of the scheme to the Council during 1930 was £683 14s. Od.
The assessments made in respect of patients whose applications were accepted and not
withdrawn during the year amounted to £470 10s. Od. Payments made by patients totalled
£457 9s. 7d.
Ambulance facilities are available for the transfer of expectant mothers to the maternity home,
and to secure an ambulance it is necessary to telephone City 7200. For details of the ambulance
service, see page 18 of this report.
As a result of the changes introduced at St. Mary Abbots Hospital following the transfer of
that institution to the London County Council, it is doubtful whether it will be convenient to
continue the borough maternity home there in the future. During 1930 the matter was receiving
the consideration of both the County Council and the Borough Council, and at the present time it
is proposed that the agreement under which the borough maternity home has been housed at the
hospital since 1924 will be terminated in September, 1931.
The Borough Council have, therefore, entered into a provisional agreement with the Queen
Charlotte's Hospital authorities for two wards (with five beds in each) in that institution to be
used as the Kensington maternity home. The rules which have been issued for the conduct of
the present home and for the guidance of patients will require very little alteration under the
new arrangements, which are expected to operate from the 1st October, 1931.
DAY NURSERIES.
There are four day nurseries in the borough, namely :—
The Golborne Day Nursery.
The Lancaster Road Day Nursery.
The Notting Hill Day Nursery.
The St. Clement's Day Nursery.
The following table shows a record of children's attendances at the day nurseries in the year 1930:—
| Gol-borne. | Lan-caster Road. | Notting Hill. | St. Cle-ment's. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Whole day attendances of children under 3 years of age | 5312 | 8335 | 8080 | 2307 | 19034 |
| 2. Whole day attendances of children over 3 years of age | 2639 | 1896 | 2809 | 1301 | 8645 |
| 3. Total whole day attendances | 7951 | 5231 | 10889 | 3608 | 27679 |
| 4. Charges made for each attendance of a child | 10d. | 9d. | 8d. | 1/- | — |
| 5. Half-day attendances of children under 3 years of age | — | — | 428 | 315 | 743 |
| 6. Half-day attendances of children over 3 years of age | — | — | 90 | 188 | 278 |
| 7. Total half-day attendances | — | — | 618 | 503 | 1021 |
| 8. Charges made for each attendance of a child | — | — | 4d. | 6d. | — |
| 9. Average daily attendance of children | 35 | 23 | 50 | 20 | — |