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SPASTIC CHILDREN
In April, 1955, the No. 4 (Chelsea) Group Hospital Management Committee
opened an experimental non-resident treatment centre for Spastic Children
at 61, Cheyne Walk, S.W.3. The establishment of such a centre had been
under consideration since 1952, and with the overcoming of financial
difficulties the project became actual fact,, With the help of a generous
bequest from the Sir William Coxen Fund it has been possible to acquire
expensive electronic apparatuses and many accessories measuring brain and
muscle tone. Moreover the establishment of a modern electro-encephalograph
department should provide hospitals in the South-west of London with
additional facilities of this kind which have long been needed,,
Cerebral palsy has, for some considerable time, been the subject of
intensive research, and the fact that little was known about it has made it
difficult to cope with. The condition arises from an injury to the brain
before, during, or after birth, and from other causes which are somewhat in
doubt, and may render it difficult for a child to either stand, walk, speak
or use its hands. The evident physical infirmity which is frequently very
gross, has contributed to the belief in the past that the children concerned
were mental defectives. When such an opinion was accepted, the mental
anguish caused to adults unfortunately so afflicted, bearing in mind that
in the majority of cases their intelligence was unimpaired, cannot be readily
appreciated.
The original plan was divided into five phases, of which the first
four or more immediate ones were as follows s:-
Phase I - Establishment of a day diagnostic and treatment
centre for young spastic children. This phase is completed.
Phase II - Opening of a ward for resident patient. This
phase is in abeyance as the day nursery is still occupying
the upper storeys of the hospital, and is likely to remain
there until 196.
Phase III - Accommodation of mothers of patients under observation.
Accommodation for a few mothers and children is now available
at St. Stephen's Hospital, Chelsea.
Phase IV - Establishment of a research centre into causes,
treatment, and prevention of cerebral palsy in all its forms.
Phase I - diagnosis and treatment - has gradually merged into Phase IV
research.