Hospital service for young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Developments in surgical treatment for spina bifida and hydrocephalus during the '60s means that there is now a large group of severely disabled young people and adults with increasing and special problems. A survey was therefore carried out by ASBAH between October 1981 and October 1982 into the provision of hospital services for young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus when they became too old for paediatric services, and especially into the system of transfer to adult provision. 370 questionnaires were returned out of 3,000 sent out. The information acquired related to the number and variety of hospitals attended, the type of medical supervision and the problems encountered in seeking treatment and advice. The indications are that specialist treatment and understanding are not available except in very few cases. Examples of current practice in the UK and abroad are cited and some conclusions drawn as to possible solutions.