London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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35
Boarding-out Children.
The council have a scheme under which the children of women staying at home or going to
institutions for their confinements can be boarded-out with foster-mothers for a period of usually
fourteen days. The council are the authority carrying out the work of child life protection, and the
child life protection visitor is a member of the staff of the public health department. This officer
visits the homes of all foster-mothers in the borough to see that the conditions, etc., are satisfactory,
and it is thus possible for the council to learn of good homes for children required to be boarded-out.
During the year, 23 children were boarded-out at a cost of £26 lis. 2d.
Travelling Expenses of Women Breast-feeding Infants Admitted to Hospitals.
Two applications were received for payment by the borough council of travelling expenses to
and from hospital of women who were breast-feeding infants admitted as in-patients to hospitals
for treatment. These were granted, and the total payments amounted to £1 7s. 6d.
Health Lecturer.
During 1937, the council's health lecturer continued to carry out valuable work in educating
mothers in domestic and personal hygiene. She also lectured at many women's and girls' clubs, etc.
In addition, she organised in conjunction with the Central Council for Health Education a health
exhibition which was held at Messrs. Derry & Toms, Kensington High Street, from the 9th to 20th
November.
The health lecturer, who was a part-time officer, resigned her appointment at the end of the
year after having held the office since 1926. The council have decided to appoint a whole-time
officer to conduct educational work in connection with general public health in addition to maternity
and child welfare.

The following is a record of the lectures given during 1937:—

Lectures given.Individual mothers attending.Attendances.Average attendance at lecture.
Bramley Road I. W. C.521744919.44
Campden Hill „ „2310234815.13
Dalgarno „ „2611839115.04
Golborne „ „2613941015.77
Kenley Street „ „3515236210.34
Lancaster Road „ „802661,32516.58
Raymede „ „5828468111.74
South Kensington „2814038313.68
Baby Clinic3017336712.23
Other institutions2268531.14
Totals3801,5485,44314.32

Birth Control and Gynaecological Clinics.
The council have an agreement with the North Kensington women's welfare centre at No. 12,
Telford Road, whereby women attending the infant welfare centres in the borough can, in appropriate
cases, receive birth control advice and gynaecological treatment. The birth control advice is
given to married women only, and is based only on medical grounds.
During 1937, the attendances of Kensington women at the Telford Road clinic totalled 1,052.
The council recognise the good work carried out by the North Kensington women's welfare
centre in respect of both birth control advice and gynaecological treatment by making an annual
grant of £100.
The Advisory Committee to the Borough Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
The advisory committee was established in 1920. The committees of the infant welfare institutions
each nominate two of their members to serve on this body, which co-ordinates the work of the
eight infant welfare centres, the four day nurseries, and the baby clinic and hospital.
There appears no reason why the assumption of financial control of various voluntary institutions
by the borough council should interfere in any way with the constitution or work of this committee,
for the voluntary committees are still associating themselves with each institution in regard to
social work. The advisory committee has always been of great assistance to the council's maternity
and child welfare committee in giving advice on matters connected with the institutions, and it is
largely owing to the efforts of this body that such smooth running, efficiency and uniformity have
been established. It is therefore proposed that two representatives of the voluntary committee of
each institution taken over by the council should continue to serve on the advisory committee. The
constitution will thus remain the same and it is hoped that the valuable help which has been rendered
in the past by this committee will continue in the future.