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7
In 1935 the Medical Officer of Health stated that he had no
hesitation in looking upon 1935 as one of Enfield's most important
years in respect of Maternity and Child Welfare as it was in this
year that three new maternity and child welfare clinics were opened.
These clinics, designed and built specifically for Maternity and Child
Welfare purposes were a great advance on the previous premises,
which were hired halls.
In 1936 was passed the Midwives' Act 1936 and 1937 was
perhaps an equally important year for Enfield, as in that year Enfield
became the Local Supervising Authority under the Midwives' Acts,
thus becoming responsible not only for the supervision of the
midwives of the district, but also for preparing and putting into
force a municipal midwifery scheme. In the same year, the duties
in connection with the registration of Nursing Homes also were
given to Enfield. Thus Enfield became one of the 7 Local Supervising
Authorities in Middlesex, and one of the 6 Authorities who
were both Supervising Authorities and Local Education Authorities.
By 1941, the inevitable temporary dislocation of some of the
Maternity and Child Welfare services by the outbreak of war had
been successfully overcome and an addition to the service was made
in the opening of the first Day Nursery in the district. By 1944
four Day Nurseries had been opened. In 1946, one Day Nursery,
for various reasons, had been converted to a Nursery School, and
now in view of the continued demand for Day Nursery accommodation,
plans are being prepared for the erection of a further Nursery.
This brief review of the development of Maternity and Child
Welfare in Enfield shows that Enfield can look back with satisfaction
on its achievement in this sphere of personal health services, and
hand over to the new Health Authority a sound, extensive and progressive
service on which can be based the developments of the
future
William D. Hyde,
Medical Officer of Health.