Although the Academic Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University of Glasgow came into being with the establishment of a Chair only in 1977, the subject had been taught to medical undergraduates since the early 60s. This was possible, even without a formal academic base, because of the long-established Scottish tradition that NHS consultants and their junior medical staff accept as a matter of course, and usually as something of a privilege, to participate in the teaching of medical students. As the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry was based in the main paediatric teaching hospital at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, it was a natural development that this should also be the location for the teaching of the specialty, and throughout its development in Glasgow this course has been a part of the final year block placement of undergraduates for instruction in child health and paediatrics. Over the years there has also been some participation in the lecture course in general psychiatry which takes place in the fourth year of undergraduate study.