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PERSONAL HEALTH
National Health Service
Act, 1946
General medical practitioners provide family planning services under the
National Health Service Act 1946.
The arrangement continued whereby women who are unable or unwilling to
attend a clinic, and to whom pregnancy would be detrimental to health, were
referred by the Health Department to the Family Planning Association for
the provision of a domiciliary service. Fifty-eight women were referred under
this scheme during 1970. The Council pays an annual fee for each case
treated.
During the year discussion began at the local Maternity Liaison Committee
on the development of family planning services in hospitals and the Enfield
Hospital Group was informed of the Council's existing schemes.
In October the Council decided to adopt Plan No. 6 of the National Family
Planning Agency Scheme as from 1st April, 1971. This provides for the
continuation of the Council's present arrangements but includes acceptance
of a standard definition of a 'medical' case.
Day Care for
Priority Groups
The Council provides day care for children under five years of age in the
priority groups (a)at its own day nursery, (b) in the day nurseries of other
local authorities in appropriate oases, and (c) with suitable registered
private day nurseries, playgroups, and child minders.
At the end of the year there were 55 children on the roll of the Council's
55-place day nursery and six placed in day nurseries of other local
authorities. There were 22 children in the priority groups on the waiting
list for day nursery places. The children of unsupported mothers continued
to occupy by far the largest number of places. Seven mothers who applied
for places had made other arrangements by the time vacancies could be
offered.
The Council's day nursery, which is approved for the training of student
nursery nurses, is housed in adapted premises where the standard of
accommodation conforms, as far as the structural limitations of the building
and site area allow, to that recommended by the Department of Health and
Social Security. During the next few years it is hoped to provide two new
55-place day nurseries and to replace the present day nursery by a third
purpose-built building. It is intended that each nursery should incorporate
a 10-place unit for mentally subnormal children.
The scheme was continued whereby at the Council's expense children in
the priority groups were placed with private day nurseries, playgroups and
child minders, in those cases where it was considered that the children
would benefit thereby.
At the end of the year 42 children were placed under this scheme which
provides that no charge be made to the parents for sessional care. For
all-day care, however, a charge is made using the assessment scale for
admission to a local authority day nursery—unless the child qualifies for
free placement because of handicap.
Handicapped Children
In Playgroups
During the year seventeen physically handicapped children, twenty mentally
retarded children, fourteen children with retarded speech but of apparently
normal intelligence, and twelve disturbed children were placed in play
groups and private nursery groups which cater for normal children. Most
of these placements were made through the Council's scheme outlined
above, but some were made privately. The great majority of these
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