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d) Medicinal Baths and Treatment Centre:
The figures contained in the section of the Report which deals with
the work of the Medicinal Baths and Treatment Centre, show that in
recent years there has been an increase in the incidence of scabies
and pediculosis, and the infestation of rooms with fleas and bed
bugs.
The health laundry, assisted bathing and the incineration of incontinence
pads and dressings, are all most valuable services for
elderly and infirm persons being nursed at home and should be
expanded as soon as the existing premises can be enlarged. This
service can also be of assistance to parents of handicapped
children.
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES:
a) Family Planning:
Since 1st January, 1969, the London Borough of Hammersmith has
implemented the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act,
1967, by providing a comprehensive Family Planning Service, using
the Family Planning Association as Agents. Prior to that date the
Authority provided Family Planning Services directly. Since
November, 1969, the Council have provided a domiciliary family
planning service for mothers who wish to have family planning
advice but, for a variety of reasons, physical, mental and social,
are not able or prepared to attend clinics.
In July, 1971, the Department of Health and Social Security issued
Circular 36/71, which contained, inter alia, the following statements:-
"The Government believe that family planning can often improve
the quality of domestic life; it can prevent the unhappiness
that unwanted pregnancies can cause and reduce the need for
abortion. The Government propose to encourage the growth of
local authority family planning, including domiciliary
services, particularly in areas of need."
"Advice will remain free to all and so will equipment to those
requiring it on medical grounds. Local authorities may waive
charges for equipment in other cases. Hospital authorities
are also being asked to increase provision for family
planning. No change is proposed in the arrangements for the
provision of family planning advice and equipment by general
practitioners."
"The Secretary of State endorses the view in Paragraph 10 of
Circular 15/67 that advice and examination should be free in
all cases, that prescriptions and supplies should be free in
medical cases, but that a charge could properly be made for
prescriptions and supplies in non-medical cases at the discretion
of the authority having regard to the means of the
person concerned. He would emphasise to the Authority the
value of providing the service free where it is given at
the person's home by a domiciliary visit and in other cases
where the service might not otherwise be used by someone
with a particular need for it."
For the purposes of the family planning scheme, a medical case is
defined as -
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