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52
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The story of the development of the Child Welfare Services
in the district starts in 1913, when a weekly voluntary dental
clinic was opened at the Bridge Schools, Wealdstone, but closed
shortly after the outbreak of the war.
On September 18th, 1915, Wealdstone Babies' House at
Homewood, High Road, Wealdstone, was opened by Dr. Barbara
Tchaykovsky as Organiser and Dr. Margaret Brady as Medical
Officer. The scope of the work included a weekly consultative
clinic and treatment of minor ailments of expectant mothers,
nursing mothers and children under five. There was a day nursery
accommodating twenty children and some limited residential
accommodation for convalescent children. Dental treatment for
the under-fives was started in June, 1916, but in 1917 this clinic
was transferred to St. Ann's Road, where school children as well
were treated. In June, 1917, the Infant Welfare Clinic was
transferred to the Wesleyan School, Locket Road, Wealdstone,
to return in May, 1919, to Homewood.
The Harrow Maternity and Infant Welfare Clinic started in
March, 1916, at the Harrow Cottage Hospital. Dr. Barbara
Tchaykovsky was the Organiser and first Medical Officer, her
duties in this latter capacity being later undertaken by Dr. Margaret
Brady. The scope of the work included infant welfare and antenatal
consultations. The clinic was later transferred to the Bessborough
Road Sunday School. Dental treatment for those who
attended and also for school children was carried out at St. Ann's
Road School, and massage and remedial drill at Bessborough
Road.
A merging of these voluntary activities took place with the
formation of the Council of Child Welfare whose object was " to
co-ordinate and unify all local efforts on behalf of maternal and
child welfare." Premises at 8, College Road, Harrow, were opened
in July, 1919, at which many services were provided for the
mothers and children of Harrow and Wealdstone. The Council
of Child Welfare maintained a dental clinic, massage clinic, ear,
nose and throat department, eye clinic, classes for mothers, a
weekly ante-natal session and a fortnightly minor ailments clinic.
In addition there was an observation ward of six cots. At the
same premises the Harrow Urban District Council provided biweekly
infant welfare sessions. At this time a weekly infant
welfare centre was being held at Homewood for the Wealdstone
mothers. This work was in April, 1920, taken over by the Wealdstone
District Council, who maintained an infant welfare clinic at
the Y.M.C.A. Hut in High Street, Wealdstone. About the same
time the Harrow District Council opened an additional infant
welfare centre at Wesley Hall, Roxeth, the voluntary creche
then being closed.