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7
Act, however, effort must now be made to secure registration of as many people
as possible who undertake child-minding. However, in the translation of the
Act into practice a balance will have to be kept between exact provisions and
what is practical, or the result will be to increase still further the number
of child-minders who attempt to evade registration.
As would be expected, attendances at ante-natal clinics declined during
the year and there was also a slight decrease in the number of children attending
the maternal and child health clinics. During the year the clinic held in
somewhat overcrowded conditions in 28 Lower Clapton Road was transferred to
No. 6 Lower Clapton Road - these premises were previously part of the district
nursing service - and adaptation has given far better facilities for the antenatal,
child health, family planning and other clinics held there.
Playgroups to provide day care for children from 3 to 5 years of age have
been under much discussion for the last few years, particularly in densely
populated urban areas, and where housing conditions may be difficult. In
these circumstances children are often kept at home without the opportunity
to play with other children in groups under the care of a person trained in
the needs of such children for socialization and educated play. During the
year the Health Committee discussed these needs and decided to contribute
directly to meeting such needs. After much negotiation with the Department of
Health and Social Security, agreement was obtained in November to the Council
setting up a certain number of playgroups and progress was being made at
the end of the year to implement this. There had previously been a number of
excellently run private playgroups and the Council in some cases has aided these
by means of a grant. The Council's decision to set up its own playgroups has,
therefore, resulted in much further interest being taken in the whole subject
and following meetings of various departments of the Council and other agencies
1969 is likely to see further development of playgroup facilities.
The expansion of what I think might be said to be the Council's excellent
family planning service continued in 1968. The service is run in part directly
by the Council and in part through the agency of the Family Planning Association.
Throughout the year publicity for family planning was carried on throughout
the Borough by all methods. The number of sessions held weekly was increased
during the year from 14 to 15 and, in addition, during the year a Young People's
Session was set up in one of the maternal and child health clinics: this was
an immediate success. Originally the clinic was held fortnightly but after
three months, this was increased to one session a week. This clinic appears
to fulfil two roles; firstly, young, often unmarried, people are given straight
forward education and advice on birth control; secondly, two main types of
problems are dealt with - one of these is the simple and more practical difficulties
of the younger and less experienced girls, and secondly, there are the
more complex psycho-sexual problems. It has been found by the doctor undertaking
this work that there are considerable difficulties in combining these
two aspects in one session and it is obvious that a further session is now
needed. This will have to be considered during 1969.
The domiciliary family planning service has also proved invaluable. A
number of women for one reason or another do not like to come to clinics; this
may be because of apathy or fear. Some women who for religious reasons may not
wish to appear at a clinic, may well accept advice in the privacy of their own
homes. The service, however, still runs up against difficulties. Some men, for
reasons known only to themselves, refuse to let their wives co-operate. It is
perhaps a pity that the damage that such men do by making their wives bear
children they do not want and very possibly cannot cope with, cannot in some way
be brought home to them. Other problems in the work arise out of the difficulty
of tracing women who have moved house without warning and in dealing with a
crisis where a supply of pills have been lost or thrown away. As is pointed out,
unwanted conception can take place where the pills are discontinued even for a
short time. Some of the women concerned seem to be unable to benefit because
of low intelligence. There is an obvious financial saving of public money on