The Sheffield Guardians … In the minutes of the House Committee appeared a copy of the report of Mrs. E. F. Pinsent, one of the visiting commissioners of the Board of Control, who recently visited the Sheffield Institution’s mental wards. The report stated: — “I have to-day paid a second visit to this institution and would like to record a hearty appreciation of the excellent condition in which I found the mental wards. A good deal of redecoration has taken place, and has been carried out with taste, and shows the value of colour in producing bright and cheerful rooms. The whole place was beautifully clean, and patients nicely dressed, and the day rooms most comfortably furnished. The patients were friendly and responsive, and the women were delighted to give me an exhibition of their dancing and singing. I have seldom seen happier and more contented patients. The observation wards, to which the patients are sent on admission, were bright and cheerful, and there was an entire absence of noise and excitement. There has been no restraint since the last inspection, and the use of the padded room is only recorded on four occasions. The patients are obviously well nursed and treated with kindness and sympathy.’’ Mrs. Pinsent also mentioned that “during the last five months 170 patients have been admitted to the mental wards, and 111 of these, ‘were sent on to a mental hospital’. The average time which 109 of these patients spent in the mental wards of this Poor Law Institution before transfer to a mental hospital was 4-6 days. The remaining two stayed for longer periods; they were at first certified under “Section 24 of the Lunacy Act.”
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949