A HISTORY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PORTSMOUTH
MEMORIES OF ST. JAMES'S HOSPITAL (JOAN'S STORY)
Joan moved from Knowle Hospital to The Meadows in approximately 1996. She remembers that Solent was the Admission Ward, the 2nd floor being for the more critically ill patients and the 1st floor for less critical. Joan doesn`t have very good memories of arriving - the furnishings and curtains were stained and some of the other patients seemed quite disturbed. She spent her days on Solent but, because there weren`t enough beds, she slept on Foxley ward which was a long stay ward. She remembers having all her possessions in a carrier bag and coming back to Solent early each morning.
Joan has some good memories, in particular the Country Cottage Social Club and the Cricket Club. Later the Country Cottage was taken over by the OTs and there were more things to do like art, drama, cooking, newspapers and magazines to read. There were also Assertiveness Classes and she was taught to use a computer again. When The Orchards opened, the OTs moved over to there and the Country Cottage was closed. Joan missed the Country Cottage and felt the groups were not there for her and that she was supposed to find groups in the Community which was a bit daunting.
Joan also misses the Coffee Shop and thinks it was a good place for clients and health workers to meet for a drink. It was also a good place for the people on the Elderly Wards to go to.