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What was it like living and working in the largest mental deficiency hospital in Britain? And what changes led to its relatively recent closure? In it's heyday in the 1970s, Lennox Castle Hospital in Scotland housed over 1600 patients in purpose built multi-occupancy villas, and most staff lived on site or in nearby Lennoxtown. Oral historian Howard Mitchell started his working life there, as a member of the hospital's nursing staff. In the tracks on this album, he looks back at the history of the hospital, and talks to former patients and staff about their experiences during and after their time at Lennox Castle. He also reflects on the responsibilities of oral historians when gathering such personal testimonies. To complete the album, Professor Joanna Bornat of The Open University's Faculty of Health and Social Care explains why the case study was selected for study and unpicks some of the issues that emerge.
The material forms part of The Open University course K101 An introduction to health and social care.
- Duration 2 hours 15 mins
- Updated Tuesday 13th April 2010
- Posted under Social Care & Social Work
Track 1: Mental Health: Lennox Castle
A short introduction to this album.
© The Open University 2009
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mental Health: Lennox Castle | A short introduction to this album. Play now Mental Health: Lennox Castle |
| 2 | An introduction to health and social care | Professor Joanna Bornat of the K101 course team gives an overview of The Open University course. Play now An introduction to health and social care |
| 3 | Lennox Castle - academic perspective | Professor Joanna Bornat of the K101 course team explains why the case study was chosen and explores some of the issues that emerge. Play now Lennox Castle - academic perspective |
| 4 | Gathering testimony | Oral historian Howard Mitchell reflects on the ethics and responsibilities of gathering testimony from former staff and residents of Lennox Castle. Play now Gathering testimony |
| 5 | Moving to Independent Living | Allan Williamson talks about the shift from institutional to community based care and resulting issues of choice and integration. Play now Moving to Independent Living |
| 6 | Lennox Castle - a guided tour | Former nurse Howard Mitchell takes a trip around around Lennox Castle, once Britain's largest mental deficiency hospital. Play now Lennox Castle - a guided tour |
| 7 | Evidence from the Archives | Oral historian Howard Mitchell explores archives which document patients' case notes, their misconducts and attempted escapes. Play now Evidence from the Archives |
| 8 | Reporting the riot | The report in a local newspaper of a riot at Lennox in 1956. Play now Reporting the riot |
| 9 | Eyewitness to the riot | A first hand account of the riot from Colin Sproul, a former member of the nursing staff at Lennox Castle Play now Eyewitness to the riot |
| 10 | Resident's perspective: Margaret | An interview with a former patient of Lennox castle. Play now Resident's perspective: Margaret |
| 11 | Nurse's perspective: Colin | An interview with a former member of the nursing staff at Lennox castle. Play now Nurse's perspective: Colin |
| 12 | Resident's perspective: Jimmy | An interview with a former patient, who was sent to Lennox when he was only 6 years old. Play now Resident's perspective: Jimmy |
| 13 | Starting work at Lennox Castle | Howard Mitchell and Allan Williamson talk about how they came to working at Lennox Castle. Play now Starting work at Lennox Castle |
| 14 | The Hospital Community | What life was like working at Lennox Castle. Play now The Hospital Community |
| 15 | Questioning Practice | Howard and Allan look back at their time at Lennox Castle and talk about the practices that were in place. Play now Questioning Practice |
| 16 | Going Out and About | Allan and Howard boundaries of Lennox Castle - from walking to getting the bus. Play now Going Out and About |
| 17 | Institutional Clothing | The uniforms that people had to wear, and the lack of personal clothing. Play now Institutional Clothing |
| 18 | The Beginning of Change | Allan and Howard talk about why change was needed at Lennox Castle, and how it was implemented. Play now The Beginning of Change |
| 19 | Reflecting on A Regime | Allan Williamson looks back at his time at Lennox - how it has affected him, and how he believes people with learning disabilities should be supported. Play now Reflecting on A Regime |
| 20 | Margaret: Life after Lennox | A former patient talks to Howard Mitchell about her life after leaving Lennox Castle. Play now Margaret: Life after Lennox |
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