The young child in hospital: a health hazard.
In this paper I have described a young child most at risk from institutional care, and called for a new awareness of the emotional needs of young children. I have called for changes in our training programmes, for changes in our hospital policies, and for a deeper involvement of the mother in the health team when the patient is a young child. The glaring inconsistency now so prevalent in the management of children must be countered by clear positive guidelines and by 'unifying principles' which are embodied in legislation. A healthier adult population will then emerge. As our investment in the next millenium, young children are our most precious resource.
D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012306:Risk