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68
Toddlers' sessions
Sessions are now held at most centres and continue to be popular
with mothers, as they provide a valuable check on the health
and development of children from 2 to 4 years of age.
Toddlers sessions held during the year 294
Total attendances 2,999
Average attendance at each session 10.2
Dental service
A dental service for expectant and nursing mothers and for
young children is provided in conjunction with the school dental
service at certain of the Council's dental surgeries. During the
year there were 63 attendances by mothers and 652 by children
under five years of age.
Family planning
Wandsworth was the first borough to provide a service fully
implementing the Family Planning Act of 1967 and a steady
momentum of growth has been maintained. Throughout the year
there has been excellent communication with hospital consultants,
general practitioners and with the neighbouring boroughs of
Merton, Richmond and Lambeth, with whom we have arrangements
for treatment on a " knock-for-knock " basis, the services
continuing to expand during 1970.
The South-West London Branch of the Family Planning Association,
who have their administrative headquarters in our child
health centre at Tooting, act as the Council's agents in providing
this service. There is no charge for consultation or medical supplies
for patients recommended on medical grounds and patients referred
on social grounds pay only for supplies, although in cases of
economic difficulty supplies may be given free of charge.
Ten sessions a week are now held in our centres and five sessions
a week are conducted in hospitals (St. James', Balham, Battersea
General, and Queen Mary's, Roehampton). "The Pill " is still the
most popular form of contraceptive treatment.
In the course of the year, 6,803 patients were seen, an appreciable
increase on the comparable figure (5,438) for 1969. On the other
hand, the number of domiciliary patients remained virtually
stationary and here it is satisfactory to report that the aim of
weaning from home to clinic is being realised. This key domiciliary
service is fully comprehensive, free of charge, and easily available.
Any doctor, health visitor, social worker or probation officer can
recommend that the domiciliary service be given and every case
receives prompt attention.