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134
In December, 1929, a Joint Circular (No. 1,054) was addressed
to all Local Authorities by the Minister of Health and the President
of the Board of Education, pointing out that there is a gap of from
three to four years in the systematic attention given to the bodily
health of many children between the time when they are under
the care of the Local Authority under the provisions of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Act and the time when, at the age of five
onwards, the health and education of all children becomes the
responsibility of the State; that it is grossly uneconomic to allow
the health and stamina of infants to deteriorate till five years old
and then spend large sums of money in trying to cure them between
the ages of 5 and 15, and urging Local Authorities where necessary
to extend their service in this direction, and making various suggestions
for the effectual filling of this gap.
After consideration of that joint circular, and the report of
the Medical Officer of Health thereon, the Council decided, in May,
1930, that having regard to the fact that the premises used by both
Committees for their Clinics and services are far from ideal, and it
being essential for the effective working of the co-ordinated services
that the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres and the School
Clinics should occupy the same building, the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor, in consultation with the Director of Education and the
Medical Officer of Health, be asked to view suitable sites in the
Borough and report as to the erection of two buildings, one in East
Leyton and one in West Leyton, to accommodate the co-ordinated
services.