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68
Spina Bifida
The new surgical approach to spina bifida, involving operations
within hours of birth, has meant that many children who would
formerly have died are now living although with varying degrees
of handicap. It is necessary to know more about the number and
condition of these children if their future health, welfare and
educational needs are to be met.
The department continued to assist the Research and Intelligence
Unit of the Greater London Council in a study designed to discover
the prevalence of spina bifida in Greater London and to
provide information of the various problems connected with this
congenital handicap.
The intention is to obtain sufficient details to enable more specialised
studies to be launched at a later date. A further six cases
were notified during 1967.