Some sort of informal respite care care was going on at various mental
handicap hospitals throughout the country ftom the early 1950s. As soon
as the war ended, Hansard records political agitation to hospitalise
large numbers of disabled children and there were insufficient places
available. One solution was to provide short periods of "assessment"
of children by psychiatrists which were nothing more than respite for
parents. This was certainly provided from the early 1950s, but may have
been custom and practice at some places much earlier. The significant
feature is the societal change of attitude towards parents -- from the
1920-30s as 'eugenics carriers' to the 1950s as 'carriers of the burden
of a dsiabled child'..This gave them political leverage and influence
which was not lost on medical superintendents.
Personally I blame the war.......
----------------------
Andy Stevens
Anglia Polytechnic University
[log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|