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Recuperative Holidays
Recuperative holidays were provided in suitable cases for persons recommended on
medical grounds as being in need of rest., fresh air and good food to aid recovery
from a recent illness. Those requiring supervision, medical and nursing care were not
eligible but were referred for convalescent treatment to the appropriate Regional
Hospital Board. Under the Council's scheme arrangements were made for adults.
expectant and nursing mothers, and children, most of whom are under 5 years of age.
Recommendations on behalf of schoolchildren were mostly referred to the Inner
London Education Authority which maintains two holiday homes.
During the year the undermentioned number of recuperative holidays were arranged:-
Expectant & nursing mothers 2
Tuberculous adults 17
Other adults 87
Psychiatric patients 13
Accompanied children 20
Unaccompanied children (I.L.E. A.
placements) 116
Family Planning
During 1966 the Council took several measures to augment and improve family
planning services available locally. At this time Local Authorities were empowered to
provide these facilities free of charge at their own clinics and at those administered
by voluntary associations for women whose health would suffer from pregnancy. In
Ministry of Health Circular 5/66 (February 1966) the Minister drew attention to the
need to co-operate with the Family Planning Association in order to develop an
adequate family planning service fully integrated with other community services.
The Central London Branch of the Family Planning Association operates from
Spencer Street, E.C.I, in this Borough and there has been full co-operation between
the Association and the Council's Officers.
The Council's first family planning clinic was opened in January. 1966, at the
East Islington Welfare Centre, 32 Drayton Park, N. 5, and a second clinic was opened at
Pine Street Welfare Centre on the 23rd November, 1966. Each of these clinics offered
advice to women referred for family planning on health and medical grounds only. No
charge was made for either advice given or articles supplied. During the year
referrals and attendances to these two clinics totalled 293.
Women were also referred on medical grounds to the clinics held regularly by the
Family Planning Association at Spencer Street and early in August, 1966, the Family
Planning Association opened an additional clinic at the North Islington Voluntary
Welfare Centre in Manor Gardens, where they were assisted by being able to use the
accommodation free of charge. At this clinic and at Spencer Street advice was given
to any women seeking it, and a charge was made. Islington women referred on medical
grounds by Council medical officers to the Family Planning Association clinics received
advice and supplies free of charge and the Council reimbursed the cost to the
Association. Originally this was on the basis of a per capita fee, but in July, 1966,
the Council accepted financial responsibility for services provided by the Association
to all Islington women requiring advice on health grounds, and reimbursement of the
cost was made by means of a grant to cover the estimated total fees. In addition, a
small grant was also made towards general expenses.
All the family planning facilities available in the Borough were notified to
general practitioners and the Council's medical and nursing staff co-operated in
making them known to those who seek or require them.
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