It’s been nearly 30 years since this concerned staff member raised the issue of not having supervision for violent/aggressive patients who were no more than children in mature bodies. How that was so wrong, integration had some issue along the way but in hindsight this was a great success for people living with disabilities and for basic human rights.
A big concern was that jobs were at risk and many trained nurses refused the offer of working as low paid support workers or social trainers in the community. But this was the end of large block treatment system, some say it was well overdue and other morn the loss of a community that spent 174 years together. Either way it is our memories that are still holding the information, much of it is not recorded. This is why we strive to collect, store and present a digital museum. If you are a custodian of memories from Royal Derwent Hospital or Willow Court Training Centre we would love to hear from you.