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RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES ACT, 1960
The Council continued to be notified of premises within the Borough where radioactive materials
were held and where certificates in respect of their storage and use were issued by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government.
Eight visits were made during the year by the Senior Public Health Inspector concerned with this
work in connection with notifications received under this Act. One firm, who are concerned with the
installation and testing of pipelines, although authorised to hold a large number of radio-isotopes, were
found to have only a few held at their premises in Haringey. The large majority of their stocks were
found to be distributed throughout the country at various building sites which are covered by the
Certificate issued, which relates to "mobile radio-active apparatus". This particular firm hold their
own courses to instruct their personnel in the correct and safe methods of handling radioactive materials.
Insufficient security appeared to be maintained at one firm handling a small amount of radioactive
material and the Radiochemical Inspectorate were informed and took appropriate action.
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Notification of Births
The following table shows the births notified during the year:-
Live Births (a) Domiciliary 706
(b) Hospital or Nursing Home 4,656
Still Births (c) Domiciliary —
(d) Hospital or Nursing Home 58
5,420
Family Planning
The National Health Service (Family Planning) Act 1967 received the Royal Assent on 28th June
1967 giving local health authorities power to make arrangements for the giving of advice on contraception
to persons seeking it. For many years they have been able to provide contraceptive advice to persons
who require it on medical grounds free of charge and they are now able to provide it on social grounds,
making a charge considered reasonable having regard to the means of the recipient.
Before the Act was passed the department was consideringthe introduction of adomiciliary family
planning service for persons unable to attend clinics and during the year arrangements for this were
completed with the Family Planning Association and the scheme was ready for introduction in early 1968.
Unfortunately, there were some unfavourable Press comments when the arrangements became known.
These inferred that contraceptive advice was to be forced on families in social difficulties and with
too many children. But, of course, this was a misinterpretation and the service is only for persons
accepting it.
The Council decided to provide family planning services entirely through the agency of the Family
Planning Association and discussions have been proceeding in order to implement fully the powers
conferred inthe Act throughout the Borough. These were not completed at the end of the year. Further
sessions were opened, however, in Fortis Green Clinic and at Weston Park Clinic and plans were made
to open others in Gordon Road and Burgoyne Road.
Sixty-four cases were referred for family planning advice on medical grounds during the year.
Ante-natal Clinics
There has been a falI in the number of sessions held and in the total number of women who attended
during the year. The drop in pressure is most noticeable. In the period of a year the whole picture
has changed from one where hospital beds were hard to find, mothers had to travel in ambulances, in
labour, to hospitals at a distance from their homes, and in both hospitals and Council clinics antenatal
sessions were crowded and busy, to the present situation where hospital bookings are relatively
easy, even allowing the patients some choice and, although hospital clinics are still busy, Council
sessions in general are quieter. This is due partly to a reduced birth rate and partly to progress in cooperation
and organisation on the part of hospitals, councils and general practitioners.
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