SOLDIER PATIENTS AT SUNNTSIDE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23378, 11 July 1941, Page 10

SOLDIER PATIENTS AT SUNNTSIDE

Sir,—l would have enjoyed your article “Internees Keep Fit on Somes Island” the-more had I not visited a returnedt;soldler in," the Sunnyslde MentaLHOSpitaliWr the day previous. I saw' TJwflhg homelike. The bed linen waa not properly, washed and was a. decided grey; it was also badly tor n; I heabtf visitors asking -that. patients’ clothingsbe changed. I saw visitors waltlmduly-iong times .while patients were'made pretenteble, but worst _■ of alh l complaints of treatment of patiefit&ffad was informed that it was to complain" as,, the* patient would only suffer. _ 1 '. Qld buildings .and lack of staff might accQunt/for amh© of these faults',‘ but 'thcre|mh#be / ; , 'yast l -* improvementsin treatment before the paUehts can enjoy even half of the

facilities and privileges enjoyed by enemy aliens. The position is the more deplorable because the.institution houses men who saw service in the Boer and Great Wars.—Yours, etc, OPEN.

July 7, 1941. [“We are always ready to receive any complaints, and they-are fully investigated. If ‘Eyes Open’ cares to forward his complaints to me, then they will be, dealt,with in the/ usual manner,” the medical superintendent of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital said when this letter was referred to him.]