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59
By neglecting the waiting cases for long enough, the waiting
list would presumably extinguish itself. Our aim, however, is not
merely to extinguish the waiting list but to make a positive
contribution to the mental health of the community.
Number attending for Treatment.
In the last annual report reference was made to the rate at
which old cases accumulate and there has been no abatement in
the past year. For instance, there are now more than 70 children
placed as maladjusted pupils in residential schools whom we are
obliged to see for a statutory examination once a year. Twentyone
new ones were admitted to such schools in 1952 and only six
were discharged. Consequently, we are bound to get further into
arrears each year.

* The figures given include both patients attending for "treatment"
(i.e. once a week or more) and for "supervision" (less than once a week)
but not occasional attendances.
In present circumstances either we do not deal with the
numbers awaiting our services or do so only at the expense of
cases already under our care. Our resources are insufficient and
we are continually faced with the problem of laying them out to
best advantage. The only solution is more generous staffing,
particularly in psychiatric sessions. There has been no increase in
psychiatric sessions since 1947 in spite of the steady increase in
the volume of work, and in 1952 this has resulted in a falling off
in the number of new cases seen by the Psychiatrist.