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3. Arrangements after birth for the infant. These should take
the form of (a) one or more " Infant Welfare Centres," where
infants would be taken periodically and examined by a doctor,
who would advise as to their feeding and general health, and where
the infants are suffering from minor complaints prescribe the
proper treatment. The centre would be open to all infants and
children up to the age when they would be entered on a school
register, and be periodically examined during school life, by the
school medical officer.
The completeness or otherwise of this scheme will largely
depend upon the number of these Welfare Centres established in the
Borough. If these are to serve for children up to the age of five
years, it is obvious the number must be rather generous. There
are between 5,000 and 6,000 births in Hackney during the year.
There are also 800 deaths yearly amongst infants up to the age of
five years. Therefore, if the centres are to serve for all infants up
to five years of age, provision, to be complete, must provide for the
examination and treatment of about 20,000 children. But the
Board in their Memorandum of 31st July, 1914, state that they do
not expect local authorities at first to initiate complete schemes,
but if partial arrangements are made, they must be such as can
ultimately form part of a more complete scheme.
At present I would suggest the establishment of two " Infant
Welfare Centres " in the Borough. For a commencement this will
be sufficient, and later on, when conditions are more normal, the
number may be increased. The two centres should be situated at
places near the poor and crowded part of the Borough.
(b) Arrangements made with the authorities of a children's
hospital to receive cases too severe for treatment at the Centre.
A conveniently situated hospital is the Queen's Hospital for
Children, Hackney Road, which is just beyond the boundary of the
Borough, but not too distant for the purpose mentioned. There