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Town Hall,
Kensington, W.8.
26th June, 1936.
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 1935 upon the state of the public health in
Kensington.
The birth rate was 12.4, which is an increase of 0.1 on the previous year, but it is 2.3 below
the rate for England and Wales. The death rate of 12.1 is 1.2 lower than the rate for the preceding
year. This figure, however, cannot be used for comparison with other districts, for it has not been
corrected for age and sex distribution of the population. When the necessary adjustment has been
made, the death rate for Kensington for purposes of comparison becomes 11-3, which is the lowest
rate recorded in the history of the borough.
The infant death rate has fallen from 93 to 79, but this rate is still above the average for London
and for the rest of the country. The year saw great changes in the maternity and child welfare
service following the Council's consideration of steps to be taken to deal with this problem of the high
infant death rate. The 14 part-time medical officers hitherto employed at the infant welfare centres
were replaced by whole-time medical officers who were specially selected by the Council for their
experience in maternity and child welfare work. One commenced work on the 1st July, another on
the 1st October, and at the end of the year it was decided to appoint a third whole-time medical
officer. It is too early yet to show that this change has produced better figures.
The maternal death rate of 2.2 is an encouraging one and compares favourably with the figure
of 3.93 for England and Wales, and 2.58 for London. The Council's whole-time ante-natal
medical officer was engaged in dealing with expectant mothers throughout the year, and, although
it would be unwise to ascribe the low rate to her services, it is pleasing to record that she has
been able to establish a system of co-operation between doctors, midwives, hospitals and antenatal
clinics which cannot have any but the best results. The voluntary workers at the welfare
institutions receive considerable encouragement from the high degree of efficiency with which the
ante-natal clinics are now conducted.
The mild type of smallpox which had been prevalent in London for some time until a few years
ago has disappeared and during the past twelve months there was not one notification in the metropolitan
area.
The year was a favourable one from the point of view of infectious disease. The total number of
notifiable acute infectious diseases fell from 1,331 in 1934 to 999.
Tuberculosis has happily shown a steady decline since the war, and in several annual reports
attention has been called to the low figures recorded. The year 1935 was again one in which the
number of notifications, deaths and death rate were lower than experienced in any previous year.
The decline taking place in this disease is greater in North Kensington than South Kensington, and
the gradual disappearance of this malady, which not long ago was known as the "white man's
scourge," is one of the highly satisfactory features in the public health of Kensington.
The five years' housing programme initiated in 1933 was pursued with the same vigour as in
previous years, and reference to the housing section of this report on page 34 will show that a large
amount of work was carried out. The Housing Act of 1935 contained a number of amendments
which the Council's recent experience had proved to be desirable and which will be of great assistance
in the future conduct of their housing work. Particular attention is called to page 42 where details
are given of the overcrowding survey conducted during the year.
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, the Chairmen and ViceChairmen
of the various committees, and all members of the Council. I wish to tender my thanks
to the Town Clerk and other chief officers for their support, particularly in regard to the housing
activities of the Council which have occupied a considerable amount of time and attention of all
officers. The staff of the department have worked loyally and have shown great enthusiasm in their
endeavour to give efficient service to the Council.
VITAL STATISTICS.
The Royal Borough of Kensington as constituted under the London Government Act, 1899,
covers an area of 2,291 acres, and is co-extensive with the civil parish and registration district
of the same name. The line of demarcation formed by Holland Park Avenue, Notting Hill
Gate, and the Bayswater Road divides the borough into approximately equal halves described in
previous years and in this report as North and South Kensington respectively. Each of these areas
is co-terminous with the parliamentary division of the same name. The borough is further
sub-divided into nine wards. North Kensington includes the wards of St. Charles, Golborne,
Norland and Pembridge, whilst South Kensington is made up of the five other wards, namely,
Holland, Earl's Court, Queen's Gate, Redcliffe and Brompton.
Population.
The population of the borough as ascertained at the census in 1931 was 180,677 persons; but
for the purpose of this report, the population for 1935 has been estimated by the Registrar-General
to be 178,300.