View report page

- 13 -
SPASTIC CHILDREN
In April, 1955, the Chelsea Hospital Management Committee will
be opening an out-patient centre for the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral
palsied children under five years of age at Cheyne Hospital, Cheyne Walk,
Chelsea.
The centre is primarily a medical establishment, but by arrangement
with the London County Council, educational facilities will be provided.
Children who are educable will attend in the mornings and receive treatment
and schooling throughout the day, whilst other children will attend for
treatment by appointment. Parents wishing to avail themselves of facilities
available should apply to the Secretary of the Centre fop Spastic Children,
61, Cheyne Walk, S.W.3.
Cerebral palsy, which produces what is known as the "spastic child",
has been the subject of recent research. Such a condition arises from an
injury to the brain before, during, or after birth, and may render it
difficult for a child to either stand, walk, speak, or use its hands. Until
lately this problem has been one difficult to cope with in view of the fact
that little was known about it, so that children so affected were deemed to
be mentally defective, the tragic implications of which can be well realised
when considering the fact that their intelligence is, in the majority of
cases, quite normal.
The centre has come into being as a result of generous contributions
from the King Edward's Hospital Fund for London, City Parochial Charities,
the William Johnston Yapp Trust, and many other public-spirited persons.
A capital outlay of £15,000 was needed to found this pioneer project.
It is hoped to include details of the work of the centre in later
reports.