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CHILD DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS
As these sessions enter their fourth year with the prospect of increasing to nine
sessions a week, the experimental phase is passing, and they may now be said to be an
established feature of the Leyton Health Service.
They provide relief of tension and positive help to mothers and children whose
mutual adjustment has become strained. They have a high staffing ratio of more than
usually experienced staff with backing from the Child Psychiatrist, which enables
assessment and help of a high quality to be given to children who are showing signs of
difficulty in the very important formative years.

Dawlish Road Clinic commenced 1 session per week on 1st April, 1963, Park House
Clinic increased to 3 sessions per week on the same date.
AT RISK REGISTER
Following a lead from one or two authorities the Minister has required local health
authorities to set up "At Risk" registers.
The idea is simple but the working of it is fraught with pitfalls.
It is well-known that the very great majority of children with handicaps that are
not immediately apparent at birth (e.g. deafness or slight spasticity) have a history
which should have made one look out for these defects. The history might be of a difficult
labour, prematurity, blood group incompatibility, familial traits, or any of some
twenty to thirty conditions.
It is also now realised that it is of the first importance to detect these "hidden"
defects as early as possible if their ill effects are to be minimised or overcome fully.
The "At Risk" register is a register of all children born who have a history which
should make one suspect a "hidden" defect. It is up to the administrative machine to see
that all these children are properly examined at intervals until the possibility of a
defect has been confirmed or ruled out.
The pitfalls arise because with the best will in the world from midwives, hospitals,
general practitioners and health visitors some cases do not get notified and constant
detailed vigilance is required. An incomplete list is better than none but the danger
of thinking it is complete when it is not must never be forgotten.
The other matter which has been a major difficulty in all areas, such as Leyton,
who have successfully compiled a register, is to cope with the volume and quality of
work which it throws up. Owing to the long list of factors which mean that a child
should be on the register, anything from a fifth to half of all children born may be
involved according to the standards adopted. Nothing less than detailed assessment by
doctors specially trained for this work should be the aim for these children, and to
provide this requires more facilities than we have at present.
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