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

View report page

Kensington 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

This page requires JavaScript

70
Golborne Infant Welfare Centre.
This Centre serves that part of the Golborne Ward north of the Great Western Railway main
line. Although the area allotted to the Centre is small, it is one of the most densely populated
districts in London. The people living in this district are generally poor and there is a very wide
scope of work.
Infant consultations are held twice weekly; expectant mothers at the beginning of the year
were seen privately at these consultations, but special ante-natal sessions were commenced in May.
Mothers and children receive dental treatment at the Raymede Dental Clinic. Sewing and Cooking
Classes are held, and dinners are provided for necessitous mothers free of cost or at reduced prices.
A trained nurse is employed by the Committee of the Centre to assist in the home nursing ot
expectant and nursing mothers and sick infants.
There is an average daily attendance of 36 children at the Day Nursery attached to this Centre.
Lancaster Road Infant Welfare Centre.
This Centre serves parts of the Golborne, St. Charles and Pembridge Wards. Infant consultations
are held three times a week and ante-natal clinics twice monthly. Dressmaking and
Sewing Classes are held weekly. Dinners are provided free of cost or at reduced prices for
necessitous expectant or nursing mothers and children. Dental treatment is provided at the Centre.
Various clubs are organised for the benefit of mothers.
A special feature of this Centre is the Father's Council, which was instituted in 1922, and was
the first of its kind to be formed in the Country. The objects of the Council are (1) to bring home
to fathers the responsibilities that rest upon them in giving the child a proper start in life, (2) to
advance the interests of the Centre, and (3) to raise funds for the Centre by means of entertainments,
etc. They are a most energetic body of men, and are taking a keen interest in the working
of the institution.
The daily number of infants received in the Day Nursery attached to this Centre averages 23.
Raymede Infant Welfare Centre
This Centre serves parts of the St. Charles and Golborne Wards, and is one of the largest
institutions of its kind in Kensington. The corner house, in which the Centre is established, is
particularly well adapted for the work to be carried out. Three Infant consultations and one antenatal
session are held each week. A dental clinic is attached to the Centre. Sewing Classes
are held weekly. Various clubs for the benefit of mothers are organised.
There is a Mothers' Council which does excellent work and a Fathers' Council has been
established. Those who have joined are exceptionally keen and have been of assistance to the
institution. The objects of the Fathers' Council are identical with those of the Lancaster Road
Fathers' Council, with whom they work in unison and harmony.
During the past year, a Children's Massage, Medical Gymnastics and Electrical Treatment
Clinic was conducted on the premises of this Centre, but the work has now been transferred to
the Princess Louise Kensington Hospital for Children. Details of the work conducted at this Clinic
will be found on page 72.
Dental Treatment.—All the Centres provide dental treatment.
Each Welfare Centre endeavours, as far as possible, to make the scheme of dental treatment
self-supporting by charging such fees as the mothers can pay and by obtaining the dentures at a
very low rate.
Although the dentures are generally not more than £4 to £5 for a complete set, they are very
well made and give considerable satisfaction.

table showing the dental treatment performed at the various centres in 1927

CentreNo. of patients.No. of attendances.Extractions.Fillings.Dentures.Other Treatments.
Archer Street74209208391333
Bramley Road681696626715
Campden Hill
Earl's Court101196180601428
Golborne29793735
Lancaster Road1274301483325115
Raymede2696713126342
Totals668175495116798264