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(Hampton Wick, Whitton, and Windham Road, Richmond) for the purpose of hold'
ing family planning sessions. There is close co-operation and joint planning between
my department and the local branch of the Family Planning Association and consequent
upon this review, the Association asked for and were offered an extension of
existing facilities at Whitton Clinic and new facilities at King's Road, Richmond. The
Association was also asked to comment on the possibility of facilities being made available
at the Ham and Essex House, Barnes, Clinics. At the end of the year the
Association had commenced an additional session at Whitton Clinic and negotiations
were proceeding for a clinic to be opened at King's Road, Richmond. The Association
did not wish to proceed with the possibility of a clinic at Ham because it was considered
that for the present their newly opened clinic at Acre Road, Kingston, could adequately
arid conveniently cater for the residents of Ham.
Health education in family planning in this Borough is largely undertaken by the
medical officers, nursing staff and social workers in their day-by-day educational
activities and, additionally, facilities are available for talks on this subject to voluntary
societies and family groups.
The times and places of family planning clinics are publicised throughout the
Council's clinics in the Borough and our medical and nursing staff and social workers
are encouraged to make this information known in their daily work with families.
Care of Unsupported Mothers and Their Babies
The help given to the unsupported mother under the National Health Service
Act, 1946, continues to be adequate within the terms of the service. The Council has
no hostel of its own for this work and uses the voluntary hostels selected by the social
welfare worker. There would seem to be a greater awareness of the need to offer a
higher standard of service to the expectant and nursing mother and to create a more
relaxed atmosphere.
During the period under review 86 young women chose to accept this type of
help, and it is satisfactory to record that only one girl left before completing her stay.
There will always be a minority who find themselves totally unable to consider
hostel life, despite being invited first to visit one and talk with those already resident.
One solution to this problem has been found by the kindly co-operation of a few of
the faster-mothers. These sensible women, who understand the problem rather more
than most, have been willing for a temporary period to offer a comfortable home and
friendly understanding in exchange for a moderate payment.
Another means of help offered to the unsupported mother is by the provision of
a temporary foster-mother for her baby. This may enable her to effect a reconciliation
with her parents, and reach an unhurried decision about adoption. The girls are
responsible for paying their own foster fees, but in certain cases the Ministry of Social
Security has recently been empowered to help. It is not generally realised that fostering
can be an effective means of enabling a girl to help herself, and several have shown
great initiative in doing this.
There is national concern over the number of children received annually into care,
many of whom are illegitimate. It is said that some 6% of all children in care nationally
are received because "the child is illegitimate and the mother is unable to provide
a home". It has always been the aim of the health department to try and prevent this.
It is occasionally necessary to ask the Children's Department to receive a few
babies into care temporarily. So far the applications have been made in the interests
of infant life protection rather than on the grounds of homelessness. Since the inception
of the new Borough eight such cases have been received, and a recent enquiry showed
that in each instance the child had been satisfactorily placed with adopters.
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