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FAMILY PLANNING
In 1965 the Council agreed to co-operate with the Family Planning Association and to make
available clinic premises to the Association free-of-charge. The Council also agreed to accept
financial responsibility for cases referred by the Health & Welfare Department under Sections 22
and 28 of the National Health Service Act 1946 and for necessitous cases referred by general
medical practitioners.
By 1967 the Family Planning Association was using four clinic premises in the Borough for a
total of 10 sessions per week, seven of these being in the evenings.
The method of payment to the Family Planning Association was changed in 1968 when an
annual lump sum grant was substituted for per capita payments.
By the end of 1969, the Family Planning Association clinics were being held in five Council
welfare centres for 121/2 sessions per week and in two hospitals for 31/2 sessions per week.
In accordance with the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act 1967, family planning
advice, etc. is available to any person who needs advice on family planning on social grounds and
not as hitherto only for medical reasons, i.e. women likely to suffer detriment to their health as a
result of pregnancy.
No distinction is made between married and unmarried persons.
CHIROPODY
Chiropody is available for the elderly, the physically handicapped and expectant mothers.
Treatment is carried out either by chiropodists in private practice under contract to the Council
or by chiropodists on the staff of the Health & Welfare Department — the "Direct" service.
Treatment is also available in the patient's home if they are incapable of visiting a private
chiropodist's surgery or a clinic.
The number of local authority clinics has been increased each year since 1966. There are now
four in operation covering the main areas of the Borough as follows : —
315 Broadway, Bexleyheath
69 Sidcup Hill, Sidcup
Town Hall, Crayford
St. Augustine's Church Hall, Belvedere.
A chiropody service for the residents of the Council's Old People's Homes undertaken by staff
of the Health & Welfare Department was introduced in 1966 and a domiciliary service by our own
staff commenced in 1967. The following tables show the growth of this service over the past five
years.
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