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89
On the outbreak of war, Miss Kerr, the pioneer health visitor,
volunteered for service and was accepted. In her place, the first
fully qualified Health Visitor was appointed. By the end of 1915
—the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, a compulsory
measure, was passed—the work had grown sufficiently to justify
the appointment of two further Health Visitors. The district was
divided up, extra Clinics were held at Wakefield Street, the services
of the School Medical Officers being utilised twice weekly
for medical examinations, and clerical assistance was rendered
by the staff of the Public Health Department.
During the war a great deal of work was undertaken by the
health visiting staff in connection with the supply of food, e.g.,
dried milk, Virol, etc., and many cases were investigated and
help obtained from the Prince of Wales Fund. To stimulate
interest Baby Shows were organised, and funds obtained from a
voluntary source to give teas to the mothers and children at the
Town Hall, where an opportunity was afforded to demonstrate
to the parents the necessity for proper clothing for infants, and
sample garments were shown. In 1917 Measles was made notifiable
and one Health Visitor was allocated to visit children suffering
from this infection. During one epidemic in the Borough,
909 visits were paid in this connection.
In 1918, the Maternity and Child Welfare Act came into
operation, and the first full-time Medical Officer was appointed,
together with two additional Health Visitors. A Centre was
opened at the White House, Plashet Grove, and the Council was
asked to undertake the supervision of two Day Nurseries in the
Borough, which had hitherto been under the care of a Voluntary
Committee.
The medical inspection of these Nurseries was undertaken
by the Assistant Medical Officer, and a Health Visitor was coopted
on the Committee to advise regarding the proper clothing
and method of feeding of the children attending. A grant was
given towards the expenses by the Council. After the war the
urgent need for Day Nurseries ceased and they were discontinued.
In 1926, two branch Infant Welfare Clinics were opened, at
North Woolwich and Manor Park. Also the supervision of Midwives,
which had been carried out by a Health Visitor, was handed