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The response was immediate and startling. Thirteen extra doctor sessions
each week were started by the Family Planning Association between April 1st
and July 1st to deal with the increased demand.
One hundred telephone calls a day were made to the central booking office
set up at Brockwell Clinic. This office received calls for the whole of the South
West London Branch of the Family Planning Association covering six boroughs,
but most of the enquiries came from Lambeth residents.
In the first six months of the free service new patients increased by 68%,
total attendances by 26% and clinic sessions by 46%. It was particularly
encouraging to note that 34% of new patients in this period had had no previous
professional advice about family planning and that the percentage of new patients
aged under 20 years was 17.6%.
On July 1st the Council took over responsibility of all clinics in the
Borough except those held at Lambeth Hospital and the South London Hospital.
The smoothness of the takeover was due in no small measure to the cooperation
and help of all the staff previously employed by the Family Planning Association;
they consented to work for Lambeth without exception.
FAMILY DOCTORS
In and around the Borough, family doctors have been kept fully informed
of developments in the service, and prescriptions given to patients attending their
own family doctors surgeries are now honoured in the family planning clinics.
HOSPITAL VISITING
Specially trained nurses continue to visit maternity wards and post natal
clinics at the South London Hospital, St. Thomas' and Lambeth Hospitals.
Various methods of birth control are discussed and arrangements for
appointments at the nearest clinics can be made at this time when the patient
is well motivated towards birth control.
YOUNG PERSONS CLINICS
In July 1972 a young persons clinic was started at Brockwell centre. This
is an informal clinic for teenagers who cannot discuss their problems with their
parents and who are often too shy to approach their family doctors. Increasing
concern has been felt at the rise in numbers of illegitimate births to girls aged
19 years and younger. The fact that 323 such babies were born in Lambeth in
1970 indicated the extent of the problem. The clinic is held weekly and timed