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Infant consultations continued at the Town Hall, the Medical Officer of Health
and the health visitor attending one afternoon per week. In 1907 the Notification
of Births Act was adopted in Woolwich, and this enabled the department to receive
immediate notice of all births, and consequently visits could be arranged much sooner
than hitherto.
In 1910, the number of infants weighed had grown from 84 to 460, and health
talks were started. The Local Government Board in 1914 approached sanitary
authorities, stating that they were prepared to give grants in payment of expenditure
for maternity and child welfare, and inviting authorities to initiate schemes. Hitherto,
only infants under one year had been dealt with, but the scheme envisaged covered
the child from birth to school age.
A scheme was accordingly submitted, and embraced the provision of an antenatal
clinic for expectant mothers, the appointment of an Assistant Medical Officer
to conduct the infant consultations, an additional woman Inspector and Health
Visitor (salary £120 to £140 per annum), and the acquisition of premises in East
Plumstead for a consultation centre.
The first world war materially retarded any advancement in the service, but
in the early post-war years progress began in real earnest. In 1919 the Assistant
Medical Officer had been appointed ; a home for ailing babies (21 cases) was taken
over by the Council, with a part-time Medical Officer in charge ; and there were
five health visitors, two of them being part-time sanitary inspectors. Infant consultations
were held at the Town Hall; at a redundant mission workers' hutment
in Well Hall Road ; at St. John's Hall, North Woolwich ; and at the American
Red Cross Centre, Plumstead High Street. A voluntary centre was opened in
Woolwich High Street, and the Council supplied the doctor and health visitor.
The Assistant Medical Officer also acted as Medical Officer for the day nursery in
Kingsman Street.
Early in 1920 provision was made in New Eltham for a welfare centre by the
use of the Church Army Hut, Southwood Road.
No arrangements for the treatment of mothers and children at the centres had
so far been made, but in 1920, by an arrangement with Woolwich Branch of the
British Medical Association, children requiring medical, surgical or dental treatment
were referred to a School Treatment Centre. Seventy-eight cases were sent in the
first year.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, increased considerably the powers
of Local Authorities. It provided for the establishment of a Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee, stipulating that it must include at least two women, and that,
subject to two-thirds of the members being Councillors, persons specially qualified
by training or experience might be appointed as members. I quote from the
circular of the Local Government Board accompanying the Act : " The supreme
importance of maternity and child welfare work at the present time needs no emphasis.
With a view to encouraging the provision of further services, which
experience has shown would be of value for conserving infant lives and health,
Mr. Hayes Fisher has obtained the sanction of the Treasury to a considerable
extension of the scope of the Board's grant. The additional services for which the
grant is now available are chiefly:—
Hospital treatment for children up to five years of age;
Lying-in houses;