I'm new to this site, but not new to searching my family tree. I thought I would answer some questions for all of you looking for family members who were in the Lancaster Moor Hospital and Royal Albert Hospitals.
Whilst doing my tree I knew my Father's Grandfather had been head porter at Lancaster Moor in the early 1900. During my research I found he was a porter there since 1881, which appeared in the 1881 census. My Mother's Grandmother was admitted between 1901-1911, and died in there of TB in 1917. My mother started work there in 1963, and my 2 sisters worked there as nurses. I started work there in 1978 as a Pharmacy technician. I was then moved to Royal Lancaster Infirmary in 1980, and as part of my job had to visit Royal Albert Hospital.
The reason why I explained all this is that i can speak first hand about the hospital, so if anyone would like a more personal opinion of the hospitals I can give that.
Psychiatric care and treatment has altered so much in the last 20 years, and what seems awful today, was as caring as they could do 100 years ago. A lot of people have the image of some horror film, but the Moor, and Albert were good places. The wards were huge, the gardens were wonderful.
My Great Grandmother was admitted because she was a danger to herself, and a worry to her family. She would wander off in the middle of the night, ending up in police cells, not knowing who she was. When she was admitted she was cared for. She probable had dementia.
Ifanyone would like any help just ask.
