London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
The following table shows a record of children's attendances at the day nurseries in the year 1931:—
| Golborne. | Lancaster Road. | Notting Hill. | St. Clement's. | Totals. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Whole day attendances of children under 3 years of age | 3284 | 2676 | 7530 | 2294 | 15784 | ||
| 2. Whole day attendances of children over 3 years of age | 1676 | 3038 | 2251 | 1546 | 8511 | ||
| 3. Total whole day attendances | 4960 | 5714 | 9781 | 3840 | 24295 | ||
| 4. Charges made for each attendance of a child | 10d. | 9d. | 8d. | 1/- | — | ||
| 5. Half-day attendances of children under 3 years of age | — | — | 903 | 432 | 1335 | ||
| 6. Half-day attendances of children over 3 years of age | — | — | 393 | 211 | 604 | ||
| 7. Total half-day attendances | — | — | 1296 | 643 | 1939 | ||
| 8. Charges made for each attendance of a child | — | — | 4d. | 6d. | — | ||
| 9. Average daily attendance of children | 29 | 26 | 49 | 22 | — | ||
CONVALESCENT HOMES.
The council, under their maternity and child welfare scheme, provide convalescent home
treatment for mothers with babies under the age of six months. The following table shows the
institutions to which mothers and infants were sent during 1931, together with the number of
cases admitted. Each mother and baby stays in the home for a period of 14 days.
St. Mary's Convalescent Home, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent.
No. of mothers admitted with babies 9
No. of mothers admitted without babies 3
Evelyn Convalescent Cottage Home, Wargrave, Berkshire.
No. of mothers admitted with babies 7
No. of mothers admitted without babies 4
Hambledon Cottage Home, Surrey.
No. of mothers admitted with babies 3
No. of mothers admitted without babies —
George Whitlaw Convalescent Home, Taplow, Bucks.
No. of mothers admitted with babies 9
No. of mothers admitted without babies 1
The St. Mary's Convalescent Home is open for the reception of patients throughout the year,
but the Evelyn, Hambledon, and George Whitlaw Homes are closed during the winter months.
The total cost to the council for convalescent treatment during the year was £73.
In September, 1931, the council discontinued sending mothers to the George Whitlaw
Convalescent Home and arrangements have been made for more mothers than hitherto to stay
at the St. Mary's Convalescent Home during the year 1932.
HEALTH LECTURER.
In 1926, the council appointed a qualified health lecturer to organise and conduct a continuous
educational campaign in public and personal hygiene amongst those members of the community
who most need enlightenment in the interests of themselves, their families, and those with whom
they come in contact. The officer appointed is now lecturing at infant welfare centres on consultation
days, at ante-natal clinics, women's and girls' clubs, etc.