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IDentItY

oPenIng A CAn oF wormS with the emotional distress I had
opened up. They thought someone
David o’Driscoll refects on the struggles he has faced talking about their institutional
encouraging people to talk about their lives in NHS institutions. experience would not be a good idea
and that people were today leading a
‘happier life’ in the community.
Why unsettle them? I was told that
clearly ex-hospital patients would not at
any price want to discuss their
experiences. We need to respect this.
However, it was also clear that many
would value the opportunity
to do so and they had not been
given the opportunity.

Failing people
Today, 15 years later, are we in a
different place with history? In many
Harperbury Hospital in decay but it has a
remarkable history and amazing stories. ways I think we are. The Social History
of Learning Disability group based at
the Open University has pioneered a
n 2000 the NHS Trust ways but I would use the term historical engagement which has
I governing the closure of ‘paternalistic’: most of the hospital involved people with learning
Harperbury Hospital in patients’ lives were tightly controlled; disabilities in their studies.
Hertfordshire had an they were not given freedom or choice; There are also currently a number
imaginative idea. most decisions were made on of large-scale heritage lottery
The long-stay hospital their behalf. funded oral history projects on long
for people with learning stay-hospitals in Wales and the north
disabilities was closing, Much of the research on patient of England. There is also an annual
after 70 years. The frst resettlement found that choice was two-day conference each year.
patients were admitted in something they particularly valued. This year’s theme was ‘Why history?’
1928. The idea was to give In 2000 the literature on this aspect of It was clear, whilst listening to
a secondment to an NHS social history was slim. In particular presentations, that many of the
worker (which was me) to we were lacking accounts by diffculties I had experienced as a
organise various events ex-patients themselves. For this history worker back in 2000,
including a history reason I wanted to put them at its were still encountered today.
conference, exhibition and, centre. I was sure I would get lots of
most of all, a closure event. contacts. I put ads in the local paper This got me thinking. Are we failing
This would involve oral (I got one reply, a nurse) and contacted people today by not talking about their
history accounts with various local networks. I waited by past experiences? There are still many
ex-hospital patients and the phone, but it never rang. people who have spent a lot of time
staff, and freworks. Puzzled, I thought maybe I was in an old long-stay hospital.
going about it the wrong way. I felt Hertfordshire has a remarkable history
In its heyday Harperbury had up to a that support services would get in and amazing stories yet there is no
thousand patients. Its catchment area touch with their ex-patients, once I mention of it in any of its literature.
was nearly the whole of North London, explained the project. I contacted This is not unusual: most NHS trusts
east and west. It has a fantastic history. many social work teams and do the same. While other services,
J F Kennedy’s family funded a research colleagues in health. I received little if they mention history, do so as a
project there, the Kennedy-Galton response. It was puzzling as I was public relations exercise to emphasise
Centre. Because of this link the hospital always being told that this history was how progressive they are today.
had some famous visitors, including important, as it was ‘hidden’ and that
Jackie Kennedy and Muriel Humphrey, we needed to record it now as many We know best
wife of Vice-president Hubert ex-patients would not be around much Despite much progress in services, is
Humphrey. The famous Tottenham longer. There was a sense of urgency. paternalism still dominating today?
Hotspur football club, including their I went the direct way. I obtained lists We know best! The main reason
star player Jimmy Greaves, played from the hospital’s resettlement team, I suspect there is such diffculty with
the patient team in 1969. There were and contacted the support services, history today is because it is a cause of
also more diffcult moments, including who were cautious and uncertain. anxiety – maybe even embarrassment,
various overcrowding scandals in the shame and guilt. We do not like these
1960s and early 1970s. Finally I did get a few responses feelings. They are opening up a can
but it was clear that a number of the of worms indeed. As George Orwell
Paternalistic support staff felt I was opening a wrote: “Who controls the past controls
The system governing the lives of the ‘can of worms’, that I would be the future. Who controls the present
hospital could be described in many leaving the support services to deal controls the past.”

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 30 No 3 | Spring 2017 11