Bellsdyke - Session 1 - Oral History Recording

Recorded 28.04.1998

Venue: Bellsdyke Community Centre.

Attendees: Alistair Harrower (Tryst View), Helena Buckley (Quality Manager, NHS Trust), Lynn Waddell (Bellsdyke Nurse), Brian Fitzsimmons & Jim Barrowman (Charge Nurses), Isobel Campbell, Martha O'Kane, Thomas Dewar & Christine McAllister ( Residents Russell Park ).

Facilitator: Valda Hood-Chin.

Index: Derek Holliday.

Keywords / Topics: Actuality of video Bellsdyke 20 years ago / photo compilation, reference to 'huts' and 'staffing' / played to trigger participants memories / work as therapy / work squads / planting vegetables/ pocket money to spend / paid work, 'squad pay' / at first only men in squads who worked at plantation, farm / industrial.

Martha: hospital since the age of 17 / next birthday (from date of interview) 70 years / used to "just sit around" / if misbehaved put out on to veranda for punishment / worked on a tapestry / knitting / prefers nurses in the hospital to wear uniforms / not so many now.

Brian: asks about farm animals, pets, kittens, pigs.

Christine: (Earth Ward) kept running away / couldn't settle at home / changes new buildings - social Life - parties - cinema - sports- egg and spoon race sports day / Alistair ran won prizes / fancy dresses made by nurses.

Alistair: 30 years in hospital - work on laundry vans.

Nurses / entertainers - carers - tailors had time for other activities for functions. 1970s few staff allowed to live Outside the hospital grounds / night passes / 'huts' available for accommodation (now used for the elderly) / couples could live in - staff treated worse than patients / not so many elderly 20 years patients medical History was all on one Page / More demands now / night duty / girls in wards shift work

Lynn: father worked in foundry - Residents swapped sandwiches with foundry-workers / worked hard and long / working late / hospital open no gates.

Tom: 200 beds / Residents paid in cigarettes to beat up troublemakers / mob rule / patient jumped out of window and died / Alistair broke down a door / was a computer consultant early 70s / no longer / hospitalised /40 years ago strict regime - security - straight jackets - belts for restraints- seclusion room.

Isobel: girls bath time - queues for bathroom needed More resources - bad practices / attitudes of the time / 1 bath for 4 patients / 1 razor blade for 6/7 men / comparisons to modern day / community responses in the 50s / many locals worked at Bellsdyke a big employer / types of nurses / psychiatric not medical / uniforms / wards for the elderly - protective purposes / patients in for 10-12 years and "cant be released into the community".

Christine: allowances for uniforms /patients sometimes dressed up in nurses capes when going out on walks / running away again.

Lynn: Chasing 'runaways'.

Comments: To be Indexed More fully.

Status: 1 X 1 Master & 1 X 1 DUPLICATE /Analogue / Cassette / Tape

Tape recorder: Marantz

Mode: Stereo

Content: Oral History

Recorded by: Valda Hood-Chin.

Engineer Comments: