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136
cal, and the geometrical progression of increasing population is
unlikely to allow these two to coincide. It follows that, as with
food, so with housing, medical, social and other personal and
public services.
Family planning affords relief from the economic consequences
of a family too large for parents to handle and amelioration of
the tensions, ill-temper, neuroses and mental disability born of
fatigue, frustration, anxiety and depression all too frequently met
with in the prolific household. Other advantages accruing from
planned parenthood are, less "problem" families and a corresponding
reduction in demands made on the health, welfare and
social services, the financial savings on which could be substantial.
Family planning has been a constant feature of this Council's
health services for almost half a century and, in collaboration
with the Walworth Women's Welfare Centre, a Birth Control
Clinic was established in the Borough as early as 1934.
Today, in accordance with the National Health Service (Family
Planning) Act, 1967, the Family Planning Association is used by
the Council as its agent. No fees are paid by any patient for
medical advice and/or examination and no charges are made for
drugs and appliances supplied to medically or socially necessitous
cases. However, it is the Council's intention to introduce an
entirely free Family Planning Scheme for residents and workers
in the Borough, including domiciliary facilities, and discussions
are now taking place with the F.P.A. with this aim in mind.
Increasing use is being made by all classes of the family planning
services provided in the Borough, including immigrants of
various nationalities. Attendances during the year rose by 16.3%
to 15,299, sessions by 7.1% to 933 and new cases by 18.3% to a
total of 2,043. Council expenditure on family planning is currently
at a rate of £16,308 per annum.
Under present arrangements trained visitors from the association
give information to maternity cases at the British Hospital
for Mothers and Babies and at the St. Nicholas and Military
Hospitals and, when requested, make appointments to be taken up
by mothers on their discharge.
The scheme also provides facilities at Langton Way Welfare
Centre for young persons over 16 years of age to discuss their
emotional, moral and sexual problems with experienced advisers.
I am indebted to Mrs. P. Regester, Administrator of the South
East London Branch of the Family Planning Association, for the
following account of her association's activities in this Borough
during the year.
"Throughout 1971, F.P.A. clinics in the Borough of