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
Kensington and Chelsea 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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in St. Stephen's and St. Charles Hospitals and at some of the Council's Centres. During
1971, a weekly afternoon clinic was opened at Walmer Road Health Centre and an
additional evening session started at Holland Street Centre.
Attendances increased during the year and the Council met the cost of Family
Planning for 5,305 borough residents as against 3,765 in 1970 and 3,197 in 1969.
The total number of patients (including non-borough residents) dealt with at the Family Planning Association's clinics in Kensington and Chelsea during the year is summarised as follows:—
| Number of new patients during year | Total number of patients (old and new) | Total clinic sessions | Total doctor's sessions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Domiciliary Family Planning
It has always been recognised that the family planning services in this borough do
not reach many of the women who would most benefit from them — mothers of problem
families, of large families living in overcrowded and often sub-standard housing and others
who, because of some physical or psychiatric disability either could not easily attend a clinic
or lack the necessary initiative to do so.
A 'ferry-service' providing transport and an escort for such women has been available
for some years but has not been used to any great extent and when the problem was
discussed early in the year by Health Department staff and a representative of the Family
Planning Association, it was agreed that the most effective way of extending family planning
advice to the areas of greatest need would be to take the service to women in their own
homes.
A scheme for a domiciliary family planning service was then worked out and was
successfully submitted to the Home Office for grant aid under Phase IV of the Urban
Programme.
The new service which commenced on 1st November was made known to all
organisations and individuals likely to be in touch with women in need of it. A brief
explanatory leaflet was sent to the Council's medical, nursing, midwifery and social service
personnel and to general practitioners, hospitals, probation services and voluntary welfare
organisations.