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(a) That no charges be made for advice or examination in all cases.
(b) That no charges be made for drugs and appliances supplied where a further
pregnancy would be detrimental to health.
(c) That charges be made in other cases for drugs and appliances except in
necessitous cases.
It is the Council's intention ultimately to take over control of those clinics held
by the Family Planning Association in Council premises.
Arrangements were also made with the Brook Advisory Centre to pay a per
capita fee in respect of young married persons over 16 years of age from the London
Borough of Southwark. The principal aims of the Centre are to set up, support and
administer young people's advisory centres; to provide professional advice for those
with emotional, sexual and birth control problems; to inculcate a sense of sexual
responsibility in the young unmarried and to mitigate the suffering caused by unwanted
pregnancy and illegal abortions. Children under 16 years of age are given
advice on sexual and emotional problems only, they are not medically examined or
given contraceptive advice or treatment.
COMMUNITY CARE
Recuperative Holidays
Recuperative holidays are provided on medical recommendation under Section 22
and Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, for persons who, following a
recent illness, are in need of rest, good food and fresh air, but who do not require
regular medical supervision or organised nursing care. The categories of patients
eligible include: mothers with babies and young children; tuberculous persons;
severely physically handicapped adults; old people; the chronic sick (following
exacerbation of illness); other adults. Provision is made for schoolchildren under
the Education Act, 1944.
The majority of homes used are privately-owned and offer varying standards of
accommodation, hygiene and regulations. Acceptance of financial responsibility for
recuperative holiday patients implies responsibility for their care and well-being and
it is essential therefore that the establishments should be inspected before approval as a
recuperative holiday home is given.
The devolution of local authority personal health functions to the new London
Boroughs under the London Government Act, 1963, created a situation which could
have led to a greatly increased number of visits to homes involving possible conflicting
advice and guidance to proprietors. It was considered to be uneconomic
and a waste of manpower for every London Borough to carry out its own inspections
and re-inspections. Furthermore one medical officer inspecting all homes could ensure
a uniform standard of opinion about conditions, the reasonableness of weekly
charges and a comparable judgement on complaints. The suggestion therefore that
Southwark should undertake arrangements for the inspection and approval of recuperative
holiday homes on a cost-sharing basis was put to the London Boroughs.
The response to the scheme has been encouraging and, if it is successful, it is thought
that it could be extended to medical inspection of residential nurseries, homes for the
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