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148
Child guidance
The number of new cases referred to the clinic in 1970
was slightly higher than in the previous year, and of the varied
sources of referral, the general practitioners formed the largest
single source, indicating their increasing awareness and involvement
with the psychiatric service provided for children and parents.
The day unit for children with emotional problems has
functioned well under the supervision of two newly appointed staff
who have coped admirably with a difficult task and have co-operated
well with the clinic staff.
Staff resignations and staff shortages have increased the
work load of the remaining members of the clinic team, but the
remaining staff continue to give a high standard of service.
The consultant paediatrician at Kingston Hospital provides
his very necessary expertise most willingly and helpfully.
The Children's Department, the Probation Service and other
community agencies continue to have a close working relationship with
the clinic and a special speech therapy treatment unit, due to open
in 1971, will involve the psychiatric team in the overall treatment
programme.
Because of the geographical difficulty of interviewing
patients from the Chessington and Hook areas, arrangements are being
made to use accommodation in the Hook Clinic for interviewing new
patients.