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PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
Dr.Little who holds a joint appointment which includes being Psychiatrist to the
Leyton Child Guidance Clinic and to the Paediatric/Psychiatric unit at Whipps Cross
Hospital reports as follows:-
"The Leyton Child Guidance Clinic was opened 1st October, 1962. Until then, Leyton
children had been treated at the Walthamstow Child Guidance Clinic, but some Leyton
children were put on the waiting list for the clinic to open.
In the last quarter of 1962, as compared with the mean of the first three quarters,
the number of cases referred increased by 50% (from 30 to 45) and the psychiatric time
increased by over a 100% (from 90 to 198 treatment sessions). Investigation and treatment
carried out by other members increased in proportion.
Most children were sent to the clinic by school medical officers, but others (such
as G.P. s, teachers, etc.) have been encouraged to send children. Priority was given
according to the needs of the children as assessed from the account of their problems.
Regular contacts between the clinic staff and other health and welfare workers in
Leyton were planned and carried out-by formal and informal meetings, discussion
groups and lectures. In particular the clinic team will be visiting Lea Bridge Day
School for maladjusted children weekly, to supervise these children and to discuss with
the staff how they can best be helped."
Whipps Cross Hospital Children's Unit:
Also on 1st October, 1962, difficult or nervous children were accepted into the
children's wards to be supervised by the same part-time psychiatrist who works in the
Leyton Child Guidance Clinic. Thirteen beds were set aside for children of any age up
to puberty. The development of this unit affects Leyton services in two main ways:-
(1) Leyton children have an equal right to admission with children from other
areas in the north-east metropolitan region. They have the added advantage
of being under the same doctor in hospital and clinic, and their admission
can be planned as part of their total treatment.
(2) Children from outside Leyton can make use of local services during their
admission to hospital (this has helped particularly in the treatment of
children who find it difficult to go to school from home, who can be
offered local school from hospital).
Further development of the hospital unit is planned with the object of increasing
the contacts between hospital and local health and welfare services, including the Child
Guidance Clinic.
B.C.G. Vaccination
(i) No. of schoolchildren skin tested 967
(ii) No. found positive 130
(iii) No. found negative 780
(iv) No. vaccinated with B.C.G 786
(69)