Home care scheme for sick children in London

Abstract

The data document the presence Of serious deficiencies in adoptive practices and help define a new role for an outpatient department in relation to (1) diagnostic services, (2) preventive services, (3) professional education, (4) research, and (5) social action. In regard to diagnostic services, the outpatient department appears to be in the most advantageous position to provide consultative services to agencies in the case of children with multiple handicaps where a variety of medical consultations, infant developmental tests, genetic counseling, or psychiatric appraisal are indicated. These special examinations are not readily available in many communities. The preventive services supplied by the clinic chiefly involve counseling with agencies to help eliminate unwarranted delays in permanent planning and placement. The provision of services to adoption agencies also provides an uncontrived opportunity for medical students and pediatric residents to gain realistic experience in the important area of adoptions as well as some knowledge of the functioning of community social agencies. This investigation also represents a type of operational and evaluative research in the field of child welfare services, a type of research that may have a wider application in communityoriented outpatient departments. Finally, the paper demonstrates how the staff of a children's hospital can join with others to help gain the increased support necessary for the provision of adequate services to children through investigation and publication of the facts in relation to deficiencies in child welfare practices. This activity would appear consonant with the role of the university in research and social action.