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98
to the health and happiness of the local community. The Block
grant made by the local authority in respect of advice and supplies
to women, where further pregnancy would be harmful to health,
was particularly appreciated.
Determination of such condition was made by local authority
doctors, general practitioners, family planning clinic doctors, and
hospital doctors, and 212 such cases were seen and treated without
charge at clinics (not necessarily within the borough). The Association
continued to give advice and supplies freely in socially
necessitous cases, and were considerably helped in this respect by
the grant.
The clinic at the Homeless Families Unit at 158A Plumstead
High Street continues to give useful service. With the kind
permission of the Management Committee, a subsidiary clinic was
established in St. Nicholas Hospital, where intra-uterine devices
are fitted, this method being particularly useful with patients who
are unable to follow the necessary regime of oral contraceptives, or
find themselves unable effectively to use the conventional barrier
methods. Both the ordinary clinic and I.U.D. clinic are available
to patients referred on social grounds by health visitors or other
social workers and no charges are made.
The Association felt that, with the support of the local authority
so readily forthcoming, comprehensive family planning services
should be available within the Borough. Previously women requiring
the I.U.D. method had to be referred to clinics elsewhere,
including that run by the Greenwich Clinic Committee at the
Lewisham Hospital. Arrangements were therefore made for establishing
an I.U.D. clinic at the Miller General Wing of the Greenwich
and District Hospital, and this was opened on 27th May, 1967, with
the team previously working at Lewisham. The Association is
grateful to the Management Committee for their permission, and
to the Secretary and staff of the hospital for the welcome and help
they have given.
Because of increased demand, the clinic at Charlton Lane was
extended to three sessions and that at Garland Road is open one
extra session each month.
Apart from the help already mentioned, it must be remembered
that the local authority have continued to allow the free use of
their premises and, within the limits of availability, have readily
granted additional session time. The following table lists the
various Welfare Centres and hospitals at which family planning
sessions are held, and summarises the work effected during 1967 :—