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30
Following up investigations on cases closed or advised at the
first interview is a valuable aspect of the work. The Clinic is
thereby enabled to assess the long-term results of treatment or
advice, and the families concerned usually welcome the opportunity
of further discussion. A timely follow-up visit may avert a possible
relapse of a case considered adjusted, with consequent saving of
time and money, and last, but not least, distress to the child and
his relatives.
Under the present conditions it is impossible for a Social Worker
with her heavy case load to undertake regular follow-up visiting on
all cases.
The Staff would like to take this opportunity of commenting
on the following:—
The need for greater diagnostic and treatment facilities as
indicated by the number of cases waiting. Only one third of the
referrals could be seen for full diagnosis.
Treatment waiting list on December 31st, 1944, was 22 and
on December 31st, 1945, it was 54.
The present position is that cases are waiting up to four months
after referral, before diagnosis is completed.
That after diagnosis children are waiting an average of three
months before they can be taken on for psychiatric treatment (this
does not apply to cases seen by the Psychologist who is usually able
to take on children after a week or so). In view of these long waits
the staff consider that unfortunately the Clinic is not at present
fully meeting the needs of children referred, although every effort
is made to do so.
To give a child or its parent an opportunity to relieve himself
of anxieties, or to understand his personal handicaps in meeting
difficulties may take a long time, sometimes many months of
attendance, for half an hour or more each week. A quick cure is
not always a lasting one in this work. The circumstances leading
up to the reason for referring the child may have been operating for
many years. With the present staffing a limited number of children
can attend the Clinic at any given time, and in consequence the
waiting list for treatment diminishes slowly.
Ideally speaking, a child in need of psychiatric help should be
seen within a short time of referral and if treatment is necessary,
be taken on for treatment almost immediately. This discrepancy