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Ely Hospital - in 1969. and officials inspect overcrowding in a mens ward
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Memory Lane
Ely Hospital - in 1969. and officials inspect overcrowding in a mens ward
Ely Hospital - in 1969. and officials inspect overcrowding in a mens ward. 2nd April 1969. *IN 1967, a long-stay hospital for people with learning disabilities hit the headlines in a way which had rarely happened before. Ely Hospital, built in 1862 as a Poor Law institution and converted to a long-stay NHS hospital in 1948, was hit with allegations of endemic maltreatment of its patients, including cruelty, verbal abuse, beatings, stealing of food, clothes and other items, indifference to complaints, lack of medical care and medication used to sedate patients. iWe must never forget, i said one former resident who lived in the hospital for most of her life. iIt was a terrible placei. The subsequent Ely Inquiry in 1969 exposed a hospital cut off from the mainstream, with little or no staff training and overcrowded wards. A White Paper followed in 1971, which eventually led to a total transformation in the way people with learning disabilities are cared for. Labour AM for Cardiff West and Cardiff University professor Mark Drakeford is an expert on the Ely Inquiry. iIt was very shocking at the time, i he said
Western Mail Archive
Mirrorpix
Wales
Media ID 21631809
© Mirrorpix
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This powerful print captures a haunting moment in history at Ely Hospital in 1969. In the image, officials can be seen inspecting an overcrowded men's ward, shedding light on the dire conditions that prevailed within its walls. Ely Hospital, originally established as a Poor Law institution in 1862 and later converted into a long-stay NHS hospital in 1948, became the center of public attention in 1967 due to shocking allegations of maltreatment towards its patients. The accusations ranged from cruelty and verbal abuse to beatings and theft of essential items like food and clothing. Patients' complaints were met with indifference, while medical care was severely lacking, leaving them sedated with inappropriate medication. Former residents who spent most of their lives within Ely Hospital described it as a "terrible place" emphasizing the need never to forget what transpired there. The subsequent Ely Inquiry conducted in 1969 exposed a hospital isolated from society, lacking proper staff training and plagued by overcrowded wards. The revelations prompted significant change within the care system for individuals with learning disabilities. A White Paper released in 1971 marked the beginning of a complete transformation regarding how these individuals are cared for today. This poignant print serves as both a reminder of past injustices suffered by vulnerable individuals and as evidence of progress made through advocacy efforts led by figures such as Labour AM for Cardiff West and Cardiff University professor Mark Drakeford – an expert on the Ely Inquiry.
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