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(a) Includes 21 couples advised on sub-fertility.
(b) Includes St. Nicholas Hospital.
(c) From 26.5.67 for Greenwich patients.
(d) Until 26.5.67 but these figures include patients drawn
from other areas.
In June, 1967, the National Health Service (Family Planning)
Act, 1967, received the Royal Assent. This permits local authorities
with the approval of the Minister of Health, to make arrangements
for the giving of advice on contraception, the medical examination
of persons seeking such advice, and the supply of contraceptive
substances and appliances. It further empowers the local authority
to recover certain of the charges having regard to the means of the
recipient. The Act does not differentiate between the married and
the unmarried.
The Association have had very amicable negotiations with
representatives of the Borough and, as a result, have agreed upon
a formula which will result in the association acting as the agents
of the local authority in providing family planning services in
accordance with the Act.
At all times the Association has been conscious that, in due
course, the provision of family planning services will be the function
of the Local Health Authority and, in consequence, have
approached the various problems with that in mind. So far as
Greenwich is concerned they feel sure that, when the time comes,
they will be able to hand over the responsibility to the local
authority, confident that it will continue the high standard of
service that the Association has set for itself.
Coincident with the passing of the new legislation, the Association
resolved that its clinics should be free to offer advice to all who
needed it, regardless of their marital status. It was known that this
decision would be received with misgiving by some individuals and
accepted that some professional and lay staff at their clinics might
not wish to be associated with it. In the event, it has been generally