NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007 37
First in, last ouutt
BY THE middle of the 19th century there was a sea change in the way ‘lunatics’
were cared – or uncared – for in Britain.
Up to that point establishments such as the Royal Navy’s Haslar Hospital in Gosport were
beacons of enlightenment in the gloom.
No one is suggesting that Haslar always got it right – but with hindsight, it provided a degree of protection
and dignity which many madhouses, prisons or workhouses would not or could not approach.
Those who could afford it would deliver their friends or relatives to the care of a private madhouse.
But the passing of the 1845 Lunatics Act required the building of county asylums, run by doctors, and
shortly after the term ‘psychiatry’ began to gain general acceptance – although there was to be no epiphany.
While maltreatment – albeit
often well-intentioned – was still
Last month Navy News looked at the first
being meted out to those who had
“lost their senses” or come under
century of psychiatric care at the Royal
the bad influence of the moon
Hospital, Haslar. This month takes us from
(the origin of the word lunacy),
the fundamental approach
the era of Crimea to the present day
was changing towards secure,
custodial establishments with a
like was the dream of any Naval by medical officers well-acquainted
more scientific underpinning.
man, those who suffered delusions with all the peculiarities of the
Around this time a Naval
chose their role models outside seamen.
officer, William MacLeod, was
the Service, usually in the form of “Officers and seamen without
appointed Inspector General for
a king or envoy from God. exception prefer to be among their
Commissions of Lunacy, and
Under MacLeod, an attendant
own... and are happier under the
once again the regime at Haslar
from the RN was sent to escort
routine and discipline peculiar to
adopted far-sighted policies.
a patient from any hospital to
the Naval Service.”
MacLeod questioned the causes Haslar “so that he is carefully
In fact, life for psychiatric
of insanity in the Navy, observing looked after and everything done
patients on the Gosport peninsula
that “years of war send more that foresight can effect.
at that time was more varied than
patients than in peace time.” “The patient is therefore received
it would have been on board ship.
He also noted that although it into an establishment where he is
The hospital employed
was presumed that to reach the surrounded with officers and men
professional singers to entertain
rank of admiral or captain or the of his own profession and attended
them, ‘magic lantern’ slide shows
were staged, and there was a steady
stream of people – including the
wives of officers and doctors –
prepared to come in on a regular
basis to read to the patients.
Theatre trips were also made in ● Haslar’s G Block, latterly the home of the military psychiatric unit. Also pictured (top) is The Arcade
the summer, with patients enjoying
a box of their own to avoid having
Indeed, the opening decade of qualified Registered Mental Fleet over post-trauma responses,
to sit in with other patrons.
the century saw rapid changes at Nurses were employed by 1934 using videos and hand-outs.
As the custodial element of
the old hospital, not the least of and staffi ng levels increased. This training role expanded
psychiatric care waxed elsewhere,
which was the replacement of gas The mid-30s saw the formal over the next ten years or so, until
so it waned at Haslar – in 1861
lighting by electricity in 1903. introduction of occupational the unit was heavily engaged in
all appearances of a prison were
In 1910 N Block – which later therapy, and for the able-bodied general education of the Fleet,
removed, including window bars
became G Block – was built, there was the opportunity for with input into basic training and
and locks.
initially to house offi cer patients physical drill. senior command courses.
By this time Haslar was
and those who needed to be on In 1936 the patients themselves Indeed, Haslar’s psychiatric
also known as the Naval
special observations. rebuilt the greenhouses and team was the fi rst to develop a post-
Lunatic Asylum, the only such
By 1912 some offi cers and garden frames, and refurbished trauma treatment facility, in 1987,
establishment in the country, and
female patients were being the grounds and sports facilities. according to Jan Beach, cognitive
there were attempts to brighten
transferred to the Royal Victoria This signifi cant contribution to and behavioural psychotherapist
it up by introducing tables,
Hospital at nearby Netley, allowing a good cause continued into World with the psychiatric unit.
comfortable chairs, carpets and
a period of time for assessment. War 2, when able patients formed
“It is run on group-based
books as well as using carefully-
But the sentiments expressed work parties for local farmers.
lines, and again other
chosen colours.
in earlier times still held true; in In the years after the war,
people came to see what
Observation of patterns of
1918 it was reported that patients turnover of patients was
we were doing.”
behaviour could really pay
expressed a preference for treatment considered to be high, and Haslar
dividends.
in a Naval hospital where “they was seen as the centre of treatment
Psychiatric support to the
In the latter half of the 19th
were amongst men of their own and investigation for all mental
Royal Navy will continue, though
century, it was noted that patients
calling, customs and terms.” disorders in the Royal Navy.
it will be from Sunny Walk in
at Haslar were often constantly
The immediate post-war
N Block was used as a closed
Portsmouth Naval Base instead
hungry – some even resorted to
period saw a resurgence
ward for the most ‘diffi cult’ patients
of Haslar, which has now passed
swallowing pieces of fabric or
in interest in psychiatric
– 20 acute psychotics – and the
into the care of the Portsmouth
small stones to quell the pangs.
medicine, as shell-shocked
building had a padded cell, which
Hospitals Trust.
When one patient almost choked
troops tried to come to terms
still exists today, though it has been
“What we would call ourselves
in the process, it was decided
with their experiences.
used as a store room for years.
now is occupational psychiatry
to introduce an extra snack in
Haslar had for almost two
– we get the patients back and
the form of bread and milk or
New approaches and treatments
centuries worked closely with
recovered,” said Jan.
cocoa, which rapidly improved the
were tried, and the unit at Haslar
Great Yarmouth Hospital, with
“We are not just treating them
situation, reduced the need for
continued to make progress during
regular transfers of patients
– the message from day one is ‘you
hypnotics to help patients sleep
the inter-war period.
between the two, but in 1955 the
can recover’.”
– and possibly gave rise to the
In the 1930s all wards except
East Anglian facility closed, and
So as Haslar moves from the
Naval habit of ‘nine o’clockers’.
one operated an open-door policy,
while long-term patients remained
military to the NHS, and the
By the start of the 20th century
allowing patients access to the
in NHS care, “recoverables” were
psychiatric unit moves out with it,
● Dark blue. light blue and khaki uniforms gather at the Royal Hospital
Haslar to mark the decommissioning prior to control passing to the psychiatric patients were kitted
quadrangle and airing grounds
transferred to Gosport. By this
a direct link back to the middle of
Portsmouth Hospitals Trust out in a smart new uniform with
and – with additional permission –
time there were close links between
the 18th century has fi nally been
blue coat, serge trousers, a blue tie
to leave the hospital all together.
Haslar and the Royal Victoria
broken.
Military decommission
and a choice of boots or shoes.
At around the same time
Hospital at nearby Netley.
The fi rst patients sheltering in
In 1907 patients could use the
the Lunacy Commissioners
The aftermath of the Falklands
the builders’ huts were the ‘down
Airing Grounds – space set aside
commented favourably on
Confl ict again pushed psychiatric
and outs’, patients who would
Haslar after 254 years
for recreation and fresh air – for
the hospital’s “atmosphere of
issues into the spotlight, and from
come under the care of modern
football, cricket and golf, with
contentment” and the high
1983 onwards Haslar’s psychiatric
psychiatric experts.
tennis introduced in 1908.
standard of nursing care; formally-
team attempted to educate the
Truly a case of fi rst in, last out.
MORE than 250 years of history continue at Haslar until late 2009.
was brought to an end with two “Indeed, the local military
ceremonies in Gosport. connection will continue even after THE
A parade through the middle that, when services are transferred
of the town was part of a to the Queen Alexandra Hospital,
DUKE OF YORK’S ROYAL MILITARY
Freedom ceremony marking the where some 300 military staff are
decommissioning of the Royal already working today.”
SCHOOL
Hospital Haslar. That hospital hosts the largest
And two days later the MOD of the six MOD Hospital Units
hauled down the flag and control of (MDHUs) around the country, and
the hospital, which officially opened military staff will account for three
in 1754 and was latterly run by per cent of the PHT workforce.
the MOD in partnership with the Cdr Bill Durning, CO of the
NHS, passed to the Portsmouth new MDHU, said the ceremonies
Hospitals Trust (PHT). marked a sea change as the military
Surg Capt James Campbell, focus switched from the Gosport
the last Commanding Officer of site to the Portsmouth site.
Haslar, said: “The Royal Hospital “But I defy anybody to see any
Haslar has served the Armed change at all between now and
Forces and the people of Gosport next week,” added Cdr Durning,
well for over 250 years. a Gosport resident who met his
“The hospital we see today has wife at Haslar.
changed immeasurably from the The civic ceremony to extend
one built before Nelson’s time; the Freedom of the Borough to the
in those days, sick and injured MDHU drew hundreds of people
sailors and marines would often to the Timespace on Gosport
try to abscond to escape the basic waterfront, where the Mayor of
conditions and isolation of the site. Gosport, Cllr June Cully, presided
“Now the vast majority of over a ceremony extending the ‘More than a school to me’
patients treated are civilians from Freedom to include the MDHU.
the local area. The three Armed Forces plus
“My departure does not mark civilians were represented at the
For further information contact:The Headmaster, The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, Kent, CT15 5EQ.
the end of the military connection Timespace, and personnel then
with Haslar. marched through the town to a
Tel:+0044 (0)1304 245024 Mil: 94284 5024 Fax:+0044 (0)1304 245019 Mil Fax: 94284 5019
“Military medical personnel who reception, led by piper Jezz Fraser
E-mail: headmaster@doyrms.com Website: www.doyrms.mod.uk
work alongside civilian staff will from HMS Sultan.
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