Brookwood Hospital and Mental Health
Oral History

Brookwood was run as a self-contained community, rather like an enclosed village. Many patients helped with cooking and cleaning, helped to run a 12-acre farm and even helped to run their own fire brigade. It was thought that work and doing things with others could help in overcoming mental health problems. There were many social and sporting events held at the Hospital.

The asylum was re-named Brookwood Hospital in 1919. Since the 1980s ‘Care in the Community’ has been the dominant approach, with people generally being cared for in their own homes. Partly because of its age and size, but mainly because of this new approach, Brookwood Hospital finally closed in 1994.

Care in the Community was gradually phased in, leading eventually to the NHS and Community Care Act of 1990. This involved giving people far greater independence, with support offered in their homes and at a local level. The vast majority of those in mental health institutions were taken out of them. The new policy was widely welcomed, though some thought the finance made available was not sufficient. There were also fears for public safety, following some widely-publicised homicides.

Local authorities now work closely with voluntary and private organisations. Doctors, psychiatric nurses, social workers and care workers all co-operate. Debates continue, around funding, training, accountability, public safety and the involvement of service users and carers in the planning of services.

Brookwood was run as a self-contained community, rather like an enclosed village. Many patients helped with cooking and cleaning, helped to run a 12-acre farm and even helped to run their own fire brigade. It was thought that work and doing things with others could help in overcoming mental health problems. There were many social and sporting events held at the Hospital.