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Advcrliser & Times. May S.-1964 6 INTO A BRAVE NEW WORLD ____________eood. Care is taken to see that


PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES OF MODERN MENTAL HOSPITAL


Calderstones patients step nearer society


“TVTOBODY wants me,” they used to think; but now John Smith and Mary ^ Jones have entered a brave new world of excitement and glamour,


ee why- iem in action l


netian blinds give itages—andafive- Sec for yourself 1


to our


lhat not long ago they had given up hope of ever scerng agam. There arc hundreds of John Smith and Mary Joneses in hospitals for the mentally


handicapped all over the country, and the new hope they have received has come throug


modern treatment, exemplified at such hospitals as Caldcrstones, Whallej. They are now being taught to feel, think, and live, like any normalperson.'^ f aM and furious the results of this teaching are showing considerable succcsi .


links are being established, as the “Outside World” creeps into Calderstones, more and more patients are seeing the light of the community and often returning to t . But before a patient can


d Q e


ration- week a t :


LTD IEROE


or —■ 31 CASTLE ST. Tel.: 136


FITTING WITHOUT ATION


YOUR REQUIREMENTS ______________ EETING


return to society, he must be made to feel at ease in it, and inconspicuous. That at .present is the ideal of Dr. A. C. Fleming, the


Medical Superintendent; and he and his staff are devoting much time and work to this end.


The average patient has a day that corresponds to yours and


ing men, women, and children, in the 2,400 beds in the hospital are being awakened. A bustling scene of activity follows, with most patients washing and dress­ ing themselves, and the men shaving with safety razors, or the electric razors that are being used more and more in the


mine. At seven o'clock in the morn­


hospital. Then, it's a good appetising .


Therapy, and is more to teach the patient a good work habit, than to get him specialised in a certain craft. Many men and women work at


breakfast, and out to work. This is known as Occupational


J. Leeming was presented, with Mesdames Durham, E. Harrison, E. Lewis, J. Steen, P, Summers, and N. L. Shaw. Make-up and wardrobe were supervised by Mrs. F. Ricketts. Mrs. Heap, of Rimington W.I,


Interested male and female student nurses listen as the Medical Superintendent Dr. A. C. Fleming reads to them. On the! left of Dr. Fleming is Matron E. i\l. Lake, and seated on his right and extreme right are the chief male nurse, Mr. H. E. Weatherly and the tutor Mr. J. A. Ward. Standing behind Mr. Ward is the assistant tutor Mr. C. Stanworth.


sit and watch television night


after night. The staff do all in their pouet


to keep the patients occupied, and encourage discussion. The impression that Calder-


3hop. Here female patients can have a wonderful, unlimited choice of goods to buy; the assistant told me: "We sell everything except


stones harbours hundreds ol dangerous, violent patients is


patients who are certified as “ detained.” The rest of them are "informal” which means they are staying voluntarily and


can leave when they wish. All patients were detained prior


entirely wrong. There are today only 20U


coats, and even those can be ordered. But usually coats that the patients are issued with are so fashionable that they have no need to buy their own." The same was to be found in


to the Mental Health Act of 19o9, which replaced the Mental Defi­ ciency and Lunacy Act.


humanitarian approach to the problems of mental illness


The new act resulted in a more


the new modern Occupational Therapy Department, called “The Robertson Centre.” Here patients take part in various acti­ vities. from the making of simple rugs, to the making of bibs, sur­ gical masks, envelopes, and Christmas cards, crackers, and


thanked the speaker and Mrs. M. A. Bosonnet, of Bolton-by- Bowiand. thanked Slaidbum W.I. for being hostess institute.


where toy soldiers are painted, individually packaged, and bulk- packed, to be sent, to many parts of this country and for export.


calendars. There is an industrial unit,


DAY SCHOOL


“At the ready” with the dressing trolley are Student Nurse M. Grundy and Sister G. Nolan.


" children to cope with life. The idea is always not to teach


pital's children attend the daily school, with seven full - time teachers. There is some emphasis on the "Three R’s,” but obviously the greatest is on helping the


Approximately 90 of the hos­


by cold rules, but by bringing the children's' personalities out


in games and ideas. And so they loam to dress by


ble in conjunelion


ses acceptable to or other device to


,urs specified, and isumeris used fop


te switch or other lilable only during ipment will be pro*


expenditure in tbs on on-peak tariffs


nsumer may be re*


ch Mean Time and account of British


;e credit meter shall SUMERS ;.m. and for 3 hours


it. IC CONSUMERS


's selection'), tit. t


a.m. and for 3 hours lit.


P.4) each day Monday a.m. and 2.00 p.m. on


nit.


the months o[ March in Tariff O.P.S during


If.


nd not in subsiiiulion of the supply lo each


es provided the total off-peak supplies for


!4 kW may be required ntfor such supplies.


,1354, fheso variations.


I normal meler reading net's meler is normally


oat meter reading date let's meter is normally titer 1st July, 1564, ihs


J.W .K . EVANS, Staeliry.


(BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE)


VACANCIES EXIST FOR NURSING ASSISTANTS—SALARY AT 21 YEARS


£490— £630 PER ANNUM


COMMUNITY SERVICE IN A KEY POST


PART TIME NURSING ASSISTANTS ARE ALSO EMPLOYED FOR PERIODS


OF 4 HOURS DAILY, OR UPWARDS. RATE OF PAY 4 /S \d . PER HOUR.


NAME ADDRESS


PLEASE SEND FURTHER DETAILS RE YOUR CADET SCHEME-TO:—


A WORTHWHILE SATISFYING CAREER


IMMEDIATE PROMOTION TO STAFF NURSE ON QUALIFYING, SALARY £650 RISING TO £800 PER ANNUM


-------- -——


SALARIES FOR STUDENTS AGE 18


TO 20 YEARS £380 TO £420 PER ANNUM (LESS £135 FULL BOARD, IF RESIDENT) AGE 21 YEARS AND OVER £490—£546 PER ANNUM (LESS £172 FULL BOARD, IF RESIDENT


PLEASE SEND FURTHER DETAILS RE YOUR STUDENT NURSE SCHEME TO : -


NAME ---------- ADDRESS ....


DETAILS OF OUR CADET SCHEME MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE MATRON OR CHIEF MALE NURSE BY POSTING THE COUPON BELOW, OR CALLING AT THE HOSPITAL P E R S O N A L INTERVIEW. PHONE


FOR WHALLEY 2121.


AT THE AGE OF 18 YEARS A THREE YEAR COURSE IN OUR MO D E R N TRAINING SCHOOL COMMENCES, U N D E R EXPERT TUITION. SALARY £380, RISING TO £420 PER


ANNUM.


AT 16 YEARS OF AGE AT 17 YEARS OF AGE


£235 PER ANNUM £245 PER ANNUM


THESE APPOINTMENTS LEAD EVENTUALLY TO VACANCIES IN THE HOSPITAL TRAINING SCHOOL AS STUDENT NURSES.


THE CALDERSTONES HOSPITAL OFFERS FACILITIES FOR TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE AGE 16 AND OVER AS NURSING CADETS.


playing dressing-up games, and loarn the co-ordination of their bodies by playing at percussion bands. They play together In


their small imitation of society to learn to get on with each other, and this Is setting them up as real Individuals, with real ideas.


very far-sighted on this point, and have women teachers, and nurses on the young boys’ wards, to give them a "Mother and Father” picture, as opposed to a whole world of males. Patients have to be clean and


The hospital officials are being


THE CALDERSTONES HOSPITAL OFFERS A THREE YEARS TRAINING COURSE FOR MEN AND WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 45 YEARS OF AGE.


RATES OF PAY (21 YEARS OR OVER) £490 TO TO £546 PER ANNUM, LESS £172 PER ANNUM FOR FULL BOARD AND LODGING, IF RESI­


DENT.


tidy for work, as we have, and have normal hours, a lunch break, and finish a t tea-time. All the time the accent is on "like we do,” but one day this imita­ tion will disappear, and the patient will do these things


football, cricket, hockey, and net- ball, with patients' teams often playing other local hospital sides. And male and female Physical Training Instructors are always on hand, as are members of the W.V.S. who visit regularly to provide the patients with hot drinks during training. When evening comes, it is not just a case of being allowed to


naturally. There are the usual games of


IN ADDITION EACH STUDENT NURSE RE­ CEIVES A PROFICIENCY ALLOWANCE OF £40 AFTER PASSING THE PRELIMINARY EXAMI­ NATION AND £50 AFTER PASSING FINAL


EXAMINATION.


Patients sitting in the modern hairdressing salon, with assistants left to right. Mrs. M. Ham son, Cadet P. Woods and Mrs. J. Reddy.


STUDENT NURSES WHO ARE NOT RESIDENT AND ARE AGED 21 OR OVER WILL BE CHARGED £54 PER ANNUM FOR MEALS ON DUTY AND FOR USE AND LAUNDRY OF


UNIFORM.


A FIVE STAIR CAREER ML


_ m * ANNUAL LEAVE FOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS


AND 2nd YEAR STUDENTS IS FOUR WEEKS, AND FOR THIRD YEAR STUDENTS — FIVE WEEKS.


authorities, i n c l u d i n g Man­


throughout the country. Calderstones serves eight local


chester and Burnley, which means it covers a population of one and a half million people. Outpatients' clinics are held at the hospital twice w e e k 1 y . through which local authorities or family doctors can refer patients to Calderstones. There is also a “guest” service.


the Male Shop. Shirts, socks, ties, radios, record players, and suits, were all in abundance. The idea of these shops is not to rival outside shops, but to prepare the patient for going outside, and to give him a sense of money value.


which is beautifully decorated with murals and light paint, 600 dancers can be comfortably catered for. Adjoining this is a smaller room where the “lower grade"' of patients can play games, and which the staff also use as a badminton oourt.


In the big hall or ballroom,


Christmas Pantomime, almost as well-known as the hospital itself, is staged, with many of the patients taking part. We then visited the Dispen­


The big hall is where the


This is mainly for families who And difficulty in looking after the mentally handicapped at home. In the case of sickness in a family, or members of the family wanting to go on a holi­ day. then patients can come to Calderstones for three to four weeks. Whilst I was visiting the hos­


the Women's Hairdressing salon, which is really a lovely place. Modern even to the glamorous pictures on the ivalls. it harbours a team of qualified hairdresses, whose aim is not just to turn out any old perm, but to give the girls an emotional lift by making them see just how pretty they can look when they take care of their hair. Many of the subnormal type of


BY KAYE MERCER c Hobbies are encouraged, and at lasses discussion groups on


apply for a job by writing and ■interview. A popular part of this is the mock interview, when patients can afterwards hear their own voices played back to them over the tape-recorder.


world affairs are held. Patients learn to use money, to read, write, use the telephone, and


beauty culture


culture and simple housewifery, in preparation for the time when they may have their own flat oi


The girls are taught beauty


popular, and over 500 attend every week. Patients are now for­ ming t h e i r own committee, whereby they can be more active in directing the movements of the night school. At the end of each night school


their own home. The night school is veil


good. Care is taken to see that the girls’ dresses fit, and the mens’ suits are also altered to fit. And. Dr. Fleming tells me. the amount of privately owned clothing in Calderstones is


rapidly increasing. Those clothes are bought for


the special outings that the patients are allowed to make. Many go out at weekends on buses to the neighbouring towns, and learn how to take the out­ side world into their stride. I t ought to be stressed that


all these cases are specially in­ vestigated, and the patients offer no danger at all. A large number of men ana


women go to RJivl during the summer months for a holiday, but this is mainly for those who have no relatives to go to.


PART-TIME WORK


those who may not be able to work full time, or feel unable to


Calderstones always welcomes


take a full training. The prospects in mental


health are of course great, and there is a training school where students can study the three vear course for R.N.M.S. (Regis­ tered Nurse for the Mentally Subnormal). Over 95 per cent were successful in this last year. Staffs have many sports faci­


session the patients meet in the central hall for a light supper. There is no segregation 01 tnc sexes, in fact they are en­


couraged to mix. Supper is followed by a dance,


in which many are quite skilled, as ballroom danoing is one of the subjects taught. The dance is certainly an event to look for­ ward to, and everyone turns up looking very neat and smart.


patients are unable to live in society and cope with society’s demands, because of arrested mental development.


But the hospital oltanges all


this. Trying to probe into each patient's case separately, it gives them the urge to feel wan­ ted in society and to feel that they are a vital part.


comparatively new, the buildings having been completed in 1916. In fact the nurses’ homes are


The hospital as a whole. is


certainly up to the standard of a modern hotel.


The Lancashire Education


sary, where I am assured, any­ thing and everything can be made. Two large well-stocked rooms are the domain of a well- qualified pharmacist and his assistants. .Mi religions arc catered for in


pital Dr. Fleming took-me oil a "Conducted tour.” ■


First stop was at the FeuAloV- f,


Authorities are specially in­ terested in the aspect of therapy, and so we see another side of the hospital . . . the immensely popular evening classes.


TJ»-*h<- bie hall; arc 'practised. ' fast call on our tour was at


■grounds. Here all faiths, apart from the Jewish which is held


the lovely big church, which hides amongst the trees in the


teachers for the patients (who incidentally are taken into the hospital from the age of three onwards). These teachers are at ordinary schools during the day, and come to the hospital two


The Authorities provide with life in society.


all this activity. When the weather is warm enough, the girls are taken out of the hos­ pital, proudly wheeling their dolls’ prams, and certainly not


The children are not left out of feeling isolated from the com­


munity.Relatives are always welcome to visit the children, and can call any afternoon without giving previous notice. They are specially encouraged to take the children home at weekends, and so preserve the unity of the


family. POCKET MONEY


few patients who could not appreciate money, all are given some pocket money every week. That is why the finance depart­ ment is kept so busy. Apart from staff wages, imagine having to sort out 2,000 amounts of pocket money every week! The money is paid in basic


With the exception of a very


nights a week. A wide range of subjects is


taught, all with th e main aim ot equipping th e pa tien ts to deal


lities, and even organise car treasure-hunts. Facilities are essentially modern, especially in the laboratories. X-ray, dental, chiropody, and pharmacy depart­


ments.


Calderstones by a consultant surgeon, consultant physician, and eye. ear, nose, and skin, specialists. There is also a regu­ lar clinic link with Blackburn Roval Infirmary. Soon after entering the hos­


There is a regular visit to .


part of a therapeutic team work­ ing towards one end . . - the making well of those sick in mind and body, and by observing them hoping that the true cause of those unfortunate enough to be mentaly sick will be found.


pital. the great comradeship of the staff is evident. They are all


Male nurses do not wear uni­


forms, but are all issued with a smart grey lounge suit, and though the women still have the ! customary nurses' uniform, great


attention is being paid, to. recently suggested new fashion­ able line of dresses.


approach by the H o s p it a l Management Committee. of which Alderman W. Heaton is the chairman, to all matteis directed to keep the hospital on the high standard it has now


There is a moden and positive


terms, plus a special bonus for effort made. Nobody gets less


i is pure spending money. Much of it goes on dress, but


than 5s. per week, and many get 12s. 6d. which, rises to the maxi­ mum of 23s. per week. All this


I hospital issued dresses are also


re&ehed*But the basic joy of working at a place like Calderstones is the personal satisfaction you feel from it. The heartwarming- trust


worthwhile.


that the patients put in you. can­ not help but make Vou lcel that however small your Sob Is, it they appreciate it. then i t


(BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE)


W'.;* » ..iv tr-V-V-V:-•


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