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The Department's visual aids were increased by the purchase of a Bell and Howell 651 TQ self-lacing film
projector for use in the southern part of Westminster. All the visual aids in the Department were used to
illustrate talks given by assistant nursing officers in hospitals, by health visitors in the child health clinics
and by school nursing sisters to children and the Parent and Teachers Associations in schools and Colleges
for Further Education. In addition public health inspectors addressed their talks to staff of catering
establishments. Further talks followed by discussions were given by medical and dental officers, social
workers and the assistant for health education. Topics included food hygiene, nutrition, home safety,
ante-natal care and parentcraft, venereal diseases, general hygiene and dental health.
ILLEGITIMACY
The City Council has always been aware of its special responsibilities regarding the prevention of
unwanted pregnancies and the care of the unmarried and unsupported mother. Family planning advice has
been freely available to unmarried as well as married women and a special youth advisory service has been
set up to offer not only help with psychosexual and family planning difficulties but also to assist in a wide
variety of the other problems of teenagers. With the co-operation of the social services department this
service was able to continue after April 1971, the doctor being provided by the health department and the
two social workers from the social services department seconded for this work.
For the care of the unmarried mother the health department had developed prior to 1971 a
comprehensive service. In addition to the support given by health visitors and arrangements for ante-natal
care, including an evening session, two social workers were allocated to this field and provided a
comprehensive case work service not only during the ante-natal period but also in the difficult years after
the birth of the baby. Unfortunately with the introduction of the social services department this specialised
work had to be discontinued pending the formation of area teams.
FAMILY PLANNING
In February 1968, the City Council fully implemented the provisions of the National Health Service
(Family Planning) Act, 1967. The service is provided both directly by the City Council and by use of the
Family Planning Association and the Catholic Marriage Advisory Service, both of these organisations having
the free use of accommodation in Health Department establishments. All forms of contraception are
available and free advice is provided for all residents of the City irrespective of marital status and sex; where
family planning is needed on medical grounds, supplies of appliances or drugs are provided free of charge.
The City Council makes a financial contribution to the Family Planning Association in respect of services
given to Westminster residents.
Persons living outside the City of Westminster may attend the Family Planning Association's clinics run
in the Council's establishments in which case the Association applies to the appropriate local authority for
reimbursement of their expenses. This arrangement is especially valuable to the public. It is a common
practice of patients to choose a clinic not necessarily in their home area and this especially affects the City
of Westminster since large numbers of young girls and women travel from the suburbs into the City to work
and seek the anonymity of clinics in the area.
At the end of the year 12 family planning sessions were being held weekly. In addition a youth advisory
service with counselling as the main object is available at two centres; details of this service are set out in
the next section.
The City Council also gives financial assistance towards family planning clinics run at the Westminster
and St. Mary's Hospitals and the Samaritan Hospital for Women. Payment by the Council is made in respect
of services provided to Westminster residents who attend the hospital clinics and is in the form of a yearly
grant or of sessional fees of the medical officer or nursing staff as appropriate.