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The illegitimate infant death rate of 150 for 1927 compares very unfavourably indeed with the
death rate of 66 for all infants and the death rate of 59 for legitimate infants.
Maternal Mortality.
In 1927 there were six deaths of Kensington women from diseases or accidents directly
connected with child-birth, and this figure represents a death rate of 2.2 mothers per 1,000 births.
The rate for London for 1926, the last year for which figures are available, was 3.3, and for
England and Wales 4.12.
The actual causes of death were :—
Puerperal Fever 4
Accidents of Pregnancy and Parturition 2
6
There are ante-natal clinics at the seven Infant Welfare Centres in the Borough ; and an antenatal
session is held at the Baby Clinic at No. 92, Tavistock Road, W.ll. In addition, the Queen
Charlotte's Hospital Authorities hold a special ante-natal clinic at their Nurses' Home in
Ladbroke Grove.
In 1927, there were 2,657 births in Kensington and of these 449 may be said to have occurred
in families which are regarded as " above standard " financially and do not come within the scope
of the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Schcme. In respect of 1,320 of the 2,208 births
in families regarded as coming within the scope of the Council's scheme, the expectant mothers
received ante-natal advice at the special clinics held at the Queen Charlotte's Nurses' Home or
the Infant Welfare Institutions. The women who gave birth to the remaining 888 children may
have received professional ante-natal attention from private medical men or at hospitals, but it is
probable that the majority did not secure for themselves the advantages of that skilled advice
which is now generally recognised to be of the greatest value.
It is pleasing to note that the number of expectant working class women receiving ante-natal
advice represents nearly 60 per cent of the total, but it is important to secure an even better
attendance of expectant mothers and efforts in this direction should be continued. If the maternal
mortality rate is to be still further lowered, more women must be induced to attend the antenatal
clinics.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA
In Circular No. 834, the Minister of Health has requested that the Report for 1927 shall give
a review of the Health Services operating within the area. In the case of a Metropolitan Borough
such a review cannot be a complete statement of all the services which are available to the residents,
for many seek aid from institutions and organisations beyond the Borough boundaries. For
example, large numbers of Kensington patients attend the West London and St. George's Hospitals,
many attend those in the central area of London, some actually attend the London Hospital in the
East End and the Fever Hospitals in every area of the Metropolis do from time to time accommodate
Kensington patients.
As it is the Minister's intention that each Medical Officer of Health shall review the services
in his area, this report will be limited to an account of those actually within Kensington.