My Grandad run this hospital in 70’s. Mr. McCorkell and my Nan Elizabeth Mc’Corkell. They were the most loving kind hearted people, and they shared lovely memories of Christmas celebrations especially with the patients.
That video is total propaganda. I trained there as a nurse, first of all as an assistant nurse in 1963 and then a student nurse from 1965 -1968, and a staff nurse until 1970. It was not the pleasant place depicted. Quite the contrary. It was an austere, Victorian institution, more like a work house. The residents (who were referred to as patients) received very little sympathy from staff.The children in Limes villa in particular never received any human affection or close human contact. They were always referred to by their surnames, never their first or Christian names.Although the patients who were not sectioned were free to go wherever they wished, they were marked out by the way they were dressed. All clothing was communal and frequently ill fitting. All of the female patients wore ridiculous white ankle socks which marked them out in the local community as patients of the "colony" as it was locally known.The villas were overcrowded, so much so that when beds needed to be made (by one or two of the patients), they had to be pushed to one end of the ward to make space and then made one by one.Every villa had a "dogsbody" who did most of the work that was the real duty of the staff. They were called upon during the day or night. During the day they had to change and wash other patients who had soiled their clothes or clean up other messes. They would be roused many times during the night to change soiled beds etc. In short they were sorely abused. As a very young callow man, I accepted that as the norm and have been ashamed ever since. In those days a whistle blowers could see the end of their career.There was a so called occupational therapy unit so that patients could learn something of the work ethic. That was a joke. At the time, the hospital had a contract to put free gifts within the pages of magazines and repackage them. The patients could not work fast enough to fulfill the contract in time, so the staff took over and did the work instead. So much for therapy.There were staff who were compassionate and caring , but they were few and far between. Many were sadistic, or abusive towards patients.I am glad that this relic of the past is now in the dustbin of history.
I worked as a filing clerk, secretary and medical records officer here for 7 years. This was truly a community, the people caring for the residents lived in the local community, had community recreational facilities and the residents able to wander about on their own were always able to leave and mix without fear in the community as people 'understood' their disabilities. This was a much misunderstood environment
Thank you for these memories;I spent the first 18 years of my life at the hospital ( my dad was a doctor) and it's wonderful to have a this loving record.
Thanks to whoever passed this on and to those staff that did a good and caring job. But let's not forget that this hospital also had a dark side over many years with intolerable conditions and where patients/residents faced unsympathetic surroundings. My recollection of this hospital is not the same pleasurable place that these propaganda films tend to lend themselves to. I, for one, am grateful it closed and my hope has always been that the patients/residents there truly did move to a better way of life
Agree total propaganda. My brother an early diagnosed Autistic was a resident at the hospital from the early 60's. I visited with my parents as a young child to see my brother from the early 70's until mid 80's. He was regularly tortured by members of staff and hurt by other "inmates" sustaining terrible injuries that were covered up by senior Dr's. He was killed at 40.
I honestly think these guys who are decrying the care here have no perspective. I spent my 1st 18 years living in the grounds, as my brilliant Dad was the Medical Superintendent here. I’m sure there were problems but honestly given the subsequent ‘ care in the community’ it was definitely better. There were an amazing sense of community. Check out this video.
I grew up in the estate right next to the hospital we would hear Sirens some nights which I believe was cos of 1 getting out. Wen we was younger we used to go over to hospital and get in disused buildings or jump from roofs onto crash mats. There were some nuts over there which we gave names too some even was moved onto the estate it was crazy
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My Grandad run this hospital in 70’s. Mr. McCorkell and my Nan Elizabeth Mc’Corkell. They were the most loving kind hearted people, and they shared lovely memories of Christmas celebrations especially with the patients.
That video is total propaganda. I trained there as a nurse, first of all as an assistant nurse in 1963 and then a student nurse from 1965 -1968, and a staff nurse until 1970. It was not the pleasant place depicted. Quite the contrary. It was an austere, Victorian institution, more like a work house. The residents (who were referred to as patients) received very little sympathy from staff.The children in Limes villa in particular never received any human affection or close human contact. They were always referred to by their surnames, never their first or Christian names.Although the patients who were not sectioned were free to go wherever they wished, they were marked out by the way they were dressed. All clothing was communal and frequently ill fitting. All of the female patients wore ridiculous white ankle socks which marked them out in the local community as patients of the "colony" as it was locally known.The villas were overcrowded, so much so that when beds needed to be made (by one or two of the patients), they had to be pushed to one end of the ward to make space and then made one by one.Every villa had a "dogsbody" who did most of the work that was the real duty of the staff. They were called upon during the day or night. During the day they had to change and wash other patients who had soiled their clothes or clean up other messes. They would be roused many times during the night to change soiled beds etc. In short they were sorely abused. As a very young callow man, I accepted that as the norm and have been ashamed ever since. In those days a whistle blowers could see the end of their career.There was a so called occupational therapy unit so that patients could learn something of the work ethic. That was a joke. At the time, the hospital had a contract to put free gifts within the pages of magazines and repackage them. The patients could not work fast enough to fulfill the contract in time, so the staff took over and did the work instead. So much for therapy.There were staff who were compassionate and caring , but they were few and far between. Many were sadistic, or abusive towards patients.I am glad that this relic of the past is now in the dustbin of history.
Well said, my cousin died there unexpectedly, he was beaten to death..
Wow, I never knew South Ockendon had a hospital!
Thanks for sharing this
I worked as a filing clerk, secretary and medical records officer here for 7 years. This was truly a community, the people caring for the residents lived in the local community, had community recreational facilities and the residents able to wander about on their own were always able to leave and mix without fear in the community as people 'understood' their disabilities. This was a much misunderstood environment
Thank you for these memories;I spent the first 18 years of my life at the hospital ( my dad was a doctor) and it's wonderful to have a this loving record.
Thanks to whoever passed this on and to those staff that did a good and caring job. But let's not forget that this hospital also had a dark side over many years with intolerable conditions and where patients/residents faced unsympathetic surroundings. My recollection of this hospital is not the same pleasurable place that these propaganda films tend to lend themselves to. I, for one, am grateful it closed and my hope has always been that the patients/residents there truly did move to a better way of life
Both my parents worked to there during the 70's I used to love going to the Christmas fair that they would have in the main hall every year ❤️
Agree total propaganda. My brother an early diagnosed Autistic was a resident at the hospital from the early 60's. I visited with my parents as a young child to see my brother from the early 70's until mid 80's. He was regularly tortured by members of staff and hurt by other "inmates" sustaining terrible injuries that were covered up by senior Dr's. He was killed at 40.
I honestly think these guys who are decrying the care here have no perspective.
I spent my 1st 18 years living in the grounds, as my brilliant Dad was the Medical Superintendent here. I’m sure there were problems but honestly given the subsequent ‘ care in the community’ it was definitely better. There were an amazing sense of community.
Check out this video.
I grew up in the estate right next to the hospital we would hear Sirens some nights which I believe was cos of 1 getting out. Wen we was younger we used to go over to hospital and get in disused buildings or jump from roofs onto crash mats. There were some nuts over there which we gave names too some even was moved onto the estate it was crazy
You sound lovely ❤