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64
The uneven distribution of handicapped children in the nurseries does
not reflect the size of the handicapped children population in a particular day
nursery area. This lack of correlation results from the inability of parents to
bring the handicapped child to the nursery, owing to home circumstances
(maternal illness, other young children in the home, etc. etc.). The need
for transport for all handicapped children to ordinary day nurseries cannot be
over-stressed.
Liaison with Lambeth Council Health Department
In the previous annual Report we described the liaison with King's
College Hospital as seen from our point of view. This year we have asked
Professer C. Eric Stroud for his evaluation of the existing liaison and he
has very kindly sent us his views which are quoted below :-
"Liaison with Lambeth Council Health Services Department
The Department of Child Health at King's College Hospital and in King's
College Hospital Medical School has during the past 2 years enjoyed and
increased its liaison and involvement with the Health Department of the
Borough of Lambeth.
This liaison has been developed in many ways. One of the Principal
Medical Officers, Dr. Nietupska, has been very generously attached to our
Department and attends regularly to take part in the teaching of medical
students, as well as carrying out skilled developmental testing of many of
our patients. Her regular attendance at our hospital has increased the efficienc
with which we are able to communicate with each other about the children
and families who are under our joint care. In addition, a Health Visitor has
been attached to our Department and attends regularly to co-ordinate the
care of children between the local authority and the hospital.
One of the most important developments in our co-operation has been
the organisation of regular meetings which take place on the third Thursday
of each month, at which problems of battered babies or socially deprived
children are discussed by medical social workers from the hospital authority,
as well as by social workers and the staff of the Department of Child Health
and the Local Authority. This has resulted in our being able to decide a policy
for each case which is agreed to by all the workers and authorities concerned.
Our Department in the Hospital has been very grateful to the Local Authority
for teaching our medical students and also for giving the students a regular
experience of the working of welfare clinics in the local authority. We hope
that the liaison and co-operation which has been developed will be increased
so that the hospital and local authority care of children will be a highly