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(Comparative figures for 1971 in brackets)
Domiciliary Family Planning
During 1971, as it was felt by both the Council's staff and members of the Family
Planning Association that the services provided were in many cases not reaching those in
most need of them, a domiciliary service was organised and commenced on 1st November of
that year.
Brief explanatory memoranda were circulated to all the Council's Medical and Social
Service personnel and to hospitals, general practitioners and voluntary organisations, but by
the end of 1971 only two women had been referred.
Response during 1972 was equally disappointing as only 15 women were referred —
all by the Council's health visitors. No requests for a home visit were received from any
outside agency.
A brief investigation into the reasons for the poor use of the service revealed that
although many women in need were urged to accept it, some were not willing to be visited
at home, or claimed that their husbands would object; others who finally agreed to accept
family planning advice decided that they would, after all, prefer to attend a clinic and did
so.
It is probable that the ready availability of clinics (and this borough is well covered)
reduces the need for women to be visited in their own homes. Nevertheless, as this is an area
where there are many families with problems and a large immigrant population with
language and other difficulties, it is still considered that more use should be made of this
service and information about it will again be extended to all those likely to be in contact
with possible recipients.
COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES
All nurses working within the community either as health visitor, home nurse,
school or clinic nurse or domiciliary midwife, have, as their aim, the promotion of family
health within the home, and the prevention of illness.
This aim includes people of all ages, from birth to old age.