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FAMILY PLANNING
General
The Authority continued during the year the arrangement under
which examination, advice, treatment and supplies are free to all
'medical' cases, and free examination, advice and treatment to all
social cases who must, however, pay for supplies unless, upon assessment,
it was found they were unable to do so.
Discussions had been held, towards the end of the year with a
medical officer of the Family Planning Association with a view to
establishing, in the new Patrick Doody Clinic and Child Health Centre
when it opens early in 1973, a weekly session for ' Youth Counselling '
for adolescents over the age of 16 who wish advice and guidance.
The service continued to expand during the year, and was the
subject of much publicity in the local press. Advertising was also
carried out by the South-West London Branch of the Family Planning
Association, and health visitors, midwives and district nurses also
assisted with propaganda on the service.
The Future Service
At the end of the year, consideration was being given by the
Health Committee to the introduction, from 1st April, 1973, of an
entirely free contraceptive service, subject to the approval of the
Council.
Organisation
Family planning sessions being held at Local Authority Clinics
at the end of the year were as follows:—
Amity Grove Clinic, Raynes Park Monday evenings, 6.15-8.15
Cavendish Road Clinic, Colliers
Wood Tuesday mornings, 9.30-11.00
Church Road Clinic, Mitcham Tuesday and Thursday evenings,
6.15-8.00
Thursday mornings, 9.30-11.00
Russell Road Clinic, Wimbledon Thursday mornings, 9.30-11.00
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday evenings, 6.15-8.15.
Wide Way, Mitcham Monday mornings, 9.30-11.00
Monday evenings, 7.30-8.30
In addition to these sessions there are two sessions per week of
clinics solely for the provision and fitting of intra-uterine contraceptive
devices, as follows:—
The Wilson Hospital, Cranmer
Road, Mitcham Mondays, 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
The Nelson Hospital, Kingston
Road Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Authority also accepts financial responsibility for any Merton
cases who present themselves at the Brook Advisory Centre, and
during the year the following numbers of cases were dealt with:—
52