London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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15
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
In 1920 the Borough possessed the following maternity and child welfare centre facilities:—
| Centre. | When opened. | Sessions held. |
|---|---|---|
| *41, Hackney Grove | 1914 | Infant Welfare—2 weekly. |
| All Souls' Church Hall, Overbury Street | 1917 | ,, ,, —1 weekly. |
| Ante-natal —1 fortnightly. | ||
| Grove Mission Hall, Brooksby's Walk | 1917 | Infant Welfare—1 weekly. |
| Ante-natal —1 fortnightly. | ||
| Wesleyan Church School, Mayfield Road | 1917 | Infant Welfare—2 weekly. |
| *Eton Misson Hall, Eastway | 1918 | Infant Welfare—2 weekly. |
* These were provided by voluntary committees who received grants from the
Borough Council of £200 and £50 respectively at that time.
It is interesting to note that in 1920 the number of children
brought to the centres for the first time was 2,845 and the total
attendances of children numbered 27,398, whilst 370 expectant
mothers attended for ante-natal supervision, their total attendances
during the year numbering 858.
The use of all these premises for religious, educational or
social purposes retarded the expansion of the maternity and child
welfare centre activities and, accordingly, the Council decided to
provide suitable premises to be used exclusively for health services.
By 1939 the Borough was being served by 6 municipal maternity
and child welfare centres, one of which was housed in a specially
converted house and two were in specially designed and constructed
premises, and 2 centres administered by voluntary committees who
received financial assistance from the Borough. Arrangements
were then under consideration for transferring the remaining three
municipal centres of the church hall type to more suitable premises,
and the Council had completed the purchase of a site in Brooksby's
Walk for this purpose.
Upon the outbreak of war the two voluntary centres and a
municipal centre were closed and the following are the clinic
facilities which were provided in 1944.