CHILD PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Acting Minister for Health (a) if he will give the number of children treated at the child psychiatric clinic as at the latest convenient date; and (b) whether there are plans to strengthen the present services.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, a total of 1,595 children were treated at the Child Psychiatric Clinic in 1988.

In addition to the Child Psychiatric Clinic at the Institute of Health, child psychiatric sessions were started at the newly-opened Jurong Polyclinic in October 1988.

We will extend the child psychiatric sessions to other new polyclinics that will be built in Tampines and Yishun in 1990 and 1991, respectively. The services are also being expanded to include older children between the ages of 13 and 20 years. To cope with the increased workload, we will increase the staffing strength over the next three years with the addition of three specialists, a Psychologist and a Medical Social Worker.