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A Storytelling Approach – Part 3

A Storytelling Approach – Part 3

More casework I should warn readers, for this blog only, that it is possible that the topic covered here of abuse of children may be too distressing for some—and you are welcome to skip it, though I promise that I give no distressing details. It was a very large part...
A Storytelling Approach – Part 2

A Storytelling Approach – Part 2

It will be evident that working with disturbed families, and the children and adolescents, is not always like a well-ordered hospital ward—nor should it be. Though I suppose the more lurid hospital soaps (not naming any) come near it! I would often have to visit a...
A Storytelling Approach – Part 1

A Storytelling Approach – Part 1

I have tried to tell some of the more upbeat stories, and indeed I know for certain that our service had many positive results. But I would not be honest if I didn’t tell how often we despaired at the way it was impossible to get the recognition, funding and...
Ty Bryn & Pollards Well

Ty Bryn & Pollards Well

These two buildings were the headquarters for the child and adolescent service for Gwent. They were in the very attractive park-like grounds of St Cadoc’s Hospital in Caerleon. They had started with Pollards Well, built many years before as a private residence...
For Gwent: Child Psychiatry – 1972-2005

For Gwent: Child Psychiatry – 1972-2005

Whatever its flaws as an institution, my time in Whitchurch Hospital was a good place to learn what should be done—and even more importantly not done—in mental health care. I joined the academic unit on Ward E1 and moved with it, as a lecturer in the School of...
Anne’s Story

Anne’s Story

“It was as if a door in the ceiling opened and there was this old man staring down at us. His face sort of crumpled and he had tears in his eyes,” said Anne. “I’d never seen a grown-up cry before!” Her voice was full of wonderment as she told me this over and over...