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101
In 1914, the main trunk may be said to have been established, as in that
year the Local Government Board issued a memorandum, the effect of which was
to place the care of the mother and child on a national basis. Authorities were
urged to inaugurate complete schemes for dealing with the whole period of childlife,
from birth to school age, and grants-in-aid were made available for this purpose.
The Council submitted a scheme, embracing the provision of an ante-natal clinic,
the appointment of a medical officer for infant consultations, and an additional
health visitor, which the Board approved.
Weighing Room—Eltham Health Centre.
The Great War certainly checked growth, but branches began to grow. By
the end of the war, an additional Centre had been established and additional
sessions were being held; the first ante-natal clinic under the Council's scheme
had been established, and an assistant medical officer for maternity and child
welfare purposes had been appointed. Towards the end of the war, milk, etc., was
being provided to necessitous expectant and nursing mothers, and to children
under five years of age.