Circulars on Child Guidance were issued by the Ministries of Health and Education (Circulars H.M. (59) 23, 3/59 and 347) in March, 1959 (1). Observations on these circulars while still in draft form had been invited from the Royal MedicoPsychological Association (2) and were submitted to the appropriate authorities.

The R.M.P.A. does not wish to comment again in detail on these circulars, but it is noted that Circular 347 states as its object the laying of a sound basis for the present organization of the Child Psychiatry (Guidance) Service and for the planning of future developments as and when this becomes possible. This being so, it is noted that it is now laid down that the clinic “will be under the medical direction of the psychiatrist”. In order to be of help in the re-organization of present child psychiatric (guidance) clinics and in the planning of future clinics, it is considered that it would be helpful to define the functions of the medical director of a clinic.