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In spite of this attendances at the older well established clinics continued
to increase during the year and it migtit be found necessary to open further
clinics although great difficulty is experienced in obtaining medical and
nursing staff to work in the clinics.
The domiciliary visiting scheme initiated by the Family Planning
Association was also taken over on the 1st April 1972. Following the reminder
about the service sent out to the Social Services Department, hospital
obstetricians and general medical practitioners during the previous year
the numbers of referrals continued to increase. Figures kept by the
Department from the 1st April to 31st December, 1972 showed that 92 patients
were visited and a total of 379 visits were made during this period.
Following the resignation of the nurse who transferred from the Family
Planning Association along with this work, arrangements were revised and
health visitors at the local clinics became involved with the domiciliary
patients and were made responsible for ensuring that they received their
necessary contraceptive supplies.
The Young People's Advisory Clinic at the Richmond Road Maternal and
Child Health Centre was also taken over from the Family Planning Association
on the 1st April 1972 and continues to give support and to supply a much needed
service to the young people of the Borough. Great importance is attached
to the counselling role of the doctor at this clinic and supplies are not
issued to young people indiscriminately.
In June 1972 the clinic for people with emotional, sexual and family
planning problems previously held at Shoreditch Health Centre under a senior
psychiatrist was resumed at the Somerford Grove Health Centre. The clinic
is held by a consultant psychiatrist and now receives patients having a
wider interpretation of family problems that would be unable to be resolved
in the surgery but possibly may be assisted hy psychiatric counselling.
Following the publication of the National Health Service (Family Planning)
Amendment Act 1972 dealing with Vasectomy, the Council, on the 20th December
1972, agreed to cover the cost of consultation and operation for persons requesting
vasectomy. Residents of Hackney seeking information about vasectomy
are referred to the Family Planning Association Clinic at the Finsbury Health
Centre where consultation is given and the operation carried out on behalf of
the Council.
Discussions continued during the year about the holding of family
planning sessions at the Hackney and Mothers Hospital so that women could
be given family planning advice and supplies before leaving the hospital
maternity department, sessions commenced at the hospitals in October 1972
and are filling a gap in the family planning service within the Borough.
Close liaison is maintained to ensure that patients are referred to a Council
clinic for follow-up when discharged from hospital.