Running the Punishment Ward

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Record Number: 11.104

Record Type: Audio

Caption:

Taken in 2006, this is a view looking south along the back road of what was the Royal Albert Hospital. The arched walkway in the centre of the image was the dividing line in the Main Building between the female and male side of the hospital. Beyond was the male side with the Boy's Yard on the right on as you went through the arches, while the photographer ws standing on the female side with the Girl's Yard on the immediate right. In this extract Mrs Creed recalls being in charge of Coupland Ward, the punishment ward for women residents.  The imposing gable end (with chimney) of this ward can be seen just to the right of the arches.  It was set apart from all the other wards of the hospital, being above the kitchens and divided from the rest of the Main Building by De Vitre Hall.
(Photo Ref. UTP IMG 0404)

Summary:

In this short extract, recorded on March 21st 2007, Mrs Creed remembers running Coupland Ward, the women's punishment ward, for many years. (This ward had also been known as Girls' Probationary)



I remember being on Refractory, and I was running that Refractory Ward on my own. And I had 30 patients, most violent patients that you can say at Royal Albert on my own. Some nurses, some nurses left the Royal Albert, they wouldn’t go up, they were too frightened. But you were locked in with them.
So you were there on your own with thirty –
Yeah. Up in Refractory.
In the Refractory, on Coupland.
Yeah. On Coupland. I had to… I mean there was me and this other nurse, she used to do it when I was off.
(Ref. 42.0027)

Notes:

This audio extract is part of the same interview and continues directly on from Mrs Creed's testimony presented in Record 8.101: Women and Health Care.

Keywords:

Layout        Buildings          1940s       1950s          1960s         Leaving Hospital

Staff             Punishment                  Female               Women                  Residents

Staff Conditions         Coupland Ward Photograph         Punishment Ward Photograph