§ Mr. Dickensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to reduce the backlog of cases of children who have suffered sexual or other forms of abuse and who are waiting for psychiatric treatment at Great Ormond Street hospital; what is the current backlog; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieVery urgent cases of children who have suffered abuse for whom psychiatric counselling is sought from the hospital for sick children are seen immediately; less urgent cases within four or at the most six weeks. The hospital's Department of psychological medicine advises that it is currently keeping up with referrals, which are running at four to five per week.
Since this programme started in September 1981, 630 cases have been referred and 250 patients were treated last year. The Department is funding a special project to develop this service further over the next three years.
Several other clinics in London and elsewhere provide psychiatric counselling for the victims of child abuse.