Identity area
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Helen C. Brooke started her training as a Norland Children's Nurse. She undertook further training (CMB) at the Salvation Army Hostel, Clapton, and then worked as a Health Visitor in Birmingham for a year. During the First World War, 1914-1918, she served for two years as a welfare worker to the women employed in Woolwich Arsenal.
Brooke began work in the Child Welfare Department of University College Hospital, London, in January 1919, as Assistant Health Visitor. Her work involved visits to local homes in the St Pancras area, and staffing the Child Welfare Clinic. In the early days of the Department the local inhabitants resented these visits, whilst attendance at the Clinic was perceived as an acknowledgment of parental incompetence. However, `largely owing to Miss Brooke's tact and perseverence [sic]' this attitude was eventually eradicated, and the next generation began to automatically bring their new babies to the Hospital to be checked by the health visitors (UCH Magazine, 1947, p.96). Brooke was promoted to Senior Health Visitor in 1935.
In August 1947 Brooke retired from her post as Health Visitor at University College Hospital, after 28 years of service.