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Dr. Carpenter's pessimism was not justified really by results because
by 1913 the calls on the time of the Health Visitor was so numerous that
it was considered advisable to establish an Infant Welfare Centre, which
was held once a week and at which the Health Visitor could watch the
progress of infants and give all necessary advice.
In 1908 the Health Visitor made 599 home visits : this relatively small
number did justify in some measure, Dr. Carpenter's pessimism ; but
when one considers that the Health Visitor also acted as the School
Nurse in the elementary schools it represented a reasonable start.
The service developed rapidly and by 1914 the number of home
visits was 2,500, and there was a regular weekly Infant Welfare Centre
with a Medical Officer in attendance.
At the end of the first war, the Maternity and Child Welfare Act,
1918, gave further powers to Local Authorities.
Under this Act, and subsequent orders and memoranda, the Urban
District Council—
(a) Approved a comprehensive scheme for the care of
expectant and nursing mothers and young children drawn up by
my predecessor Dr. J. M. Clements. This scheme included the
provision of milk and the supply of Infant Foods at the Welfare
Centre.
(b) In conjunction with the Urban District of Penge, acquired
premises in Croydon Road, Beckenham, for use as a Maternity
Home.
During the ensuing years, the service was expanded to meet the needs
of a growing district, but all subsequent developments were either the
implementation of new powers conferred on Local Authorities, or
extensions of the scheme put forward by Dr. Clements, whose original
scheme remains the basis of the service as it exists to-day.
Additional Health Visitors were appointed and more Infant Welfare
Centres opened as the years went by. All of the specialist services of the
School Medical Service were made available to children under the age of
five, including the development of a special dental service for mothers and
young children. An ante-natal scheme was established and conducted
by the general medical practitioners of the district, under which expectant
mothers were examined by the doctor of their choice— the same doctor
being subsequently called at the confinement if medical help were
required : this scheme provided an excellent service for many years,
and I personally very much regretted its termination.
Other services were established during the recent war to meet special
needs. Two Day Nurseries were opened in the Borough and an attempt
—only partially successful— was made to provide Home and Domestic
helps for domiciliary maternity cases, and for those who through illhealth
or other infirmity were in need of assistance in the ordinary work
of their homes. The relative failure of the Home Help Scheme was due
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