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184
Cheyne Hospital, West Wickham
I am grateful to Dr. J. Richings, Paediatrician, Farnborough
Hospital, for the following report: —
Cheyne Hospital, West Wickham, is a long-stay Children's
Hospital of sixty beds. The majority of cases admitted are severely
disabled children who require nursing care, intensive physiotherapy
and education. Cases of Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy make
up the majority of children. Children are admitted up to the age
of ten years.
In the past year four children were discharged home or transferred
to suitable residential hospital schools. Miss Miles became
the new head of the school in September, 1969: the children
have all enjoyed her lively approach to education and have
benefited accordingly.
Cheyne now has the services of a part-time Medical Social
Worker. This has proved very helpful to both parents and staff.
The Phoenix Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy
I am grateful to Dr. C. H. Upjohn, Paediatrician, Farnborough
Hospital, for the following report:—
The Phoenix centre was opened at Farnborough Hospital in
April, 1959. Initially it was proposed to take 19 children of school
age, but over the years the number has gradually increased and
children now attend as soon as it is apparent that they are suffering
from cerebral palsy. The youngest begin attending before the
age of 1 year (youngest admission was a 5 months) for physiotherapy
and advice regarding management at home by the parents.
During the past year 9 children of school age have attended
daily during the school term and there are 10 children between
3 and 5 years of age who attend the infants' group and who have
their own teacher allotted to them. These children also have all
the medical treatment required at these attendances. There are
12 children, under 3 years of age, who attend for medical treatment
as required, and in this age group there are 5 hemiplegic
children. Altogether more than 30 children are attending the unit.
The staff includes: one consultant paediatrician, and one
clinical assistant, two physiotherapists (one full-time and one parttime),
two full-time and one part-time school teachers from the
borough, a full-time occupational therapist, a part-time speech
therapist, one nursing warden, one nursing auxiliary; cadet nurses
are appointed regularly to the unit to help with care of the children
and to receive instructions in the care of handicapped children;
there are also Norland Nurses who attend during their training
period at Farnborough Hospital. In addition consultants from
other specialities attend, including the orthopaedic consultant (who
pays regular visits), the E.N.T. surgeon and the dental surgeon;
all children are seen by Mr. Owen, the ophthalmic specialist.