"My First Visit to Rampton Hospital"

Rampton

I visited it on Friday 11 November .. poppy day..

The word Rampton draws up a picture in one’s mind, when you have never been there. It’s the reputation it holds, due to the importance of its existence. Bars on every window and the mystery it holds from within the high walls and its uncompromising security.

I arrived in the reception area at Rampton and went through the security procedure, filling in a one-page form and then my photo was taken as well as an electronic device scanned my finger. I was given a locker key to place my mobile, pens, sweets & keys in.

I was impressed how smooth the security procedure was, I have had more harrowing experiences, going through airport control in other countries, as well as in England, to get on a plane.

Louise, afforded me every courtesy and shown me round the whole of Rampton. My visit was to see if there would be an opportunity to fit Time to Talk in Rampton. But I was privileged to have the opportunity to go round the male wards as well as the women’s wards too. Each of the wards had a café type area for eating in. This is also, where the patients meet their visitors on some of the wards. There is also a lounge area on each ward, where patients can make a drink for themselves. This was a big improvement on the old practice where patients had to ask for a drink and were only offered a cold drink in the evenings. There was also a quiet room, with lounge chairs, where a patient was able to have some time to themselves, but observed from a distance through glass.

I met lots of ward managers and other staff too. I also had an opportunity to talk to a few patients and had permission, from a patient, to visit her room too. This was a good-sized room with a window and a walk in shower and toilet, a wardrobe and a place to display her cards and other personal things as well as a single bed.

I also spoke to a patient who had been awarded more access to the grounds. This was obviously a very big thing in her treatment and she was very excited indeed, as I shook her hand and congratulated her on her achievement.

The word Rampton conjures up all kinds of preconceptions of what it’s like, but all my assumptions were wrong, as I found the living quarters much like you would find in a well run nursing home, save for all the heavy doors I was led through, as we continued with the tour. I never had the feeling of being watched all the time, as the security is all done at arm’s length, through glass and strategically designed observation offices and not intimidating at all.

Louise explained some of the security measures in place, which are very sophisticated but very well thought through, so as to allow as normal as life as possible without putting anyone one at risk, patients, visitors or staff.

I had visited three quarters of the facilities before I came across the first bars on windows; this was in the corridors of the old side of Rampton. The decision to keep the bars on the windows was to be able to open the large sash windows and allow lots of fresh air into the long corridors. I thought that decision was very practical and showed that a lot of thought goes into such decision making and not just conform and rip down everything so it looks good.

We visited the shop, where patients can buy provisions for personal items as well as snacks. Louise told me she is planning to have a clothes shop too, for patients to buy fashionable clothes.

We then went on to the workshops, where the patients can make things such as furniture for someone who visits them. There is also a dedicated Toy Shop, where toys are made, by the patients, for family members.

Part of the old building is the medical centre, where patients can go see a GP. There are also facilities to do small surgical procedures. There is a large swimming pool and a fully equipped theatre room for showing films.

I spent so much time talking to everyone; there was no more time to see the rest of Rampton. But Louise offered me the opportunity to visit again and have a look at the adult learning disability wards, where her biggest concern was some patients do not want to leave and there is an age span from 18 years old to 70 years old as a consequence. And also visit the very high secure unit called The Peaks.

After going back through security, into the reception area, I talked to Louise, before she had to go to her meeting. I asked her to consider having a Time to Talk drop in room for all the patients carers, family and friends to use as an option. Time to Talk is not a group but a place where Carers, Families and Friends of a patient can talk about anything that’s on their minds, with a staff member, in an attempt to deal with their problem there and then, in the drop in room, in the reception area.

Trevor Clower…

Reflection …

Some of the stigma is held in the name Rampton, when in fact the full title is Rampton Hospital… it is not a prison! That’s why we always call it Rampton Hospital!