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The gross cost of the scheme to the council during 1937 was £1,238 8s. Od.
The assessment made in respect of patients whose applications were accepted and not
withdrawn during the year amounted to £644 12s. Od. Payments made by patients totalled
£633 Os. 6d.
London. County Council Hospitals.
Hammersmith L.C.C. hospital admits cases from North Kensington into the maternity wards,
and a large number of Kensington women make use of this provision.
St. Mary Abbots L.C.C. hospital now principally serves South Kensington since the mothers
living in the northern part of the borough go to Hammersmith hospital. A large number of
Kensington women have been confined in St. Mary Abbots hospital during the year.
Voluntary Hospitals.
The Princess Beatrice hospital, situated within the borough, admits many Kensington women
to its maternity ward, and other patients have entered Queen Charlotte's hospital, St. Mary's
hospital, St. George's hospital, and other maternity hospitals.
All the hospitals serving the borough send lists of the Kensington women booking for their
maternity wards to the medical officer of health in order that their patients may receive the benefit
of the home visiting carried out by the council's health visiting staff.
Domiciliary Midwifery.
Private Doctors and Midwives.
For patients in comfortable circumstances the borough is fortunate in its doctors and midwives :
skilful obstetric care is given by the Kensington practitioners to patients referred to them from
the clinics and the domiciliary morbidity rate is low. Several Kensington midwives retired from
practice at the end of the year under the provisions of the Midwives Act, 1936. One midwife
previously in private practice is now employed by the London county council. Compensation is
paid by the borough council to any private midwife booked to attend a Kensington woman if the
latter is referred to hospital by the ante-natal medical officer, so that the fear of the loss of her fee
should not prevent a midwife from sending a Kensington patient for advice.
London County Council Midwives.
On the 1st January, 1938, the municipal midwives employed by the London county council
commenced their duties. Arrangements for co-operation with this new branch of the service
promise to be very satisfactory.
Hospital Districts.
Kensington is especially fortunate in that its northern area is the maternity district of Queen
Charlotte's hospital, whose district midwives attended 362 Kensington women in their homes
during 1937 ; there is a low morbidity rate due to the high standard of work of this hospital.
St. Mary's hospital undertakes a small number of cases in North Kensington in connection
with the teaching of medical students, the maternity nursing of these patients being carried out
by the Kensington District Nursing Association.
Post-Natal Examination.
In addition to the council's post-natal clinic, weekly post-natal clinics are held at the borough
maternity home, at all the maternity hospitals and London county council hospitals serving the
borough, and at the Queen Charlotte's hospital district clinic at No. 240, Ladbroke Grove.
The importance of a careful routine post-natal examination in diminishing maternal invalidism
is now fully recognised and every woman is taught its necessity. At the council's clinic at No.
28b, Archer Street, 52 sessions were held during 1937, at which 114 individual mothers attended.
This number is small, but it represents those cases not under the care of a private doctor or a hospital,
and ensures that post-natal facilities are available for every woman in Kensington.
The Baby Clinic, No. 92, Tavistock Road.
On the 1st April, 1937, the borough council, at the request of the voluntary committee, assumed
financial control of this institution. It serves as a treatment centre for all the infant welfare centres
in the borough, mothers and children being referred there for treatment. Dental work, minor
operations, massage, sunlight treatment, etc.. are also carried out. Children attend daily for
dressings. The medical officers in charge of the baby hospital conduct the sessions at the baby
clinic, which renders it easy for the cases needing in-patient treatment to obtain it.
Under an agreement with the London county council, the treatment of minor defects of schoolchildren
is carried out on the premises by the medical staff in charge of pre-school children. Thus,
continuous medical treatment is given by the same staff and in the same premises to children from
infancy to school-leaving age.