February's Blog

This month I'm going to talk about what has being going on with the Past patient/Human Rights side of Lake Alice.

A complaint was logged with the police almost 10 years ago by ex patient's regarding the behavior of the staff of Lake Alice Hospital during the 1970's. Understand this was nothing to do with the compensation payouts this was because of the people who were abused want justice, they want those people who hurt them when they where children to be punished just like they had been. If you were abused as a child by anyone let alone someone of the medical profession you too would want justice served. It's simple someone takes the authority they have been given to care of 'sick' people and abuse that power. That is corrupt! This is not our society we should not treat one another like this, not then not now, Sadly it seems while time has gone by very little has changed. Even if what happened at Lake Alice was 30 odd years ago the government today should be making thing's right instead of blowing off the complaints.

So unfortunately it seems the police have decided even without speaking to former staff many who still practice, that for the children of Lake Alice there will be no justice. Superintendent Malcolm Burgess told former Adolescent Unit patient Kevin Banks today that it was very unlikely former staff would be prosecuted for having any part of there physical and sexual abuse as well as the infamous unmodified ETC, while working at Lake Alice. This means former head of the Unit Selwyn Leeks who was responsible for ECT being administered is a free man, along with a long list of former nurses who still live in the Manawatu-Rangitikei. Who would have thought so many who worked there in the 70's abusing young people would remain in Marton years on, boy they must have some gut's. At least they would have got there property for a bargain!     

No update on the security around the place, although a few 'chilling' comments from people who have taken the big jump over the fence. Ah they make me smile =]

No word on the sale of the old Admin building, previous caretakers house, Water tower and land that is for sale. Few small news articles have claimed there has been 'strong interest', although I haven't followed that one up yet. Good luck to the new owners.

That's all for now might add more over the next week if I get the pictures sorted of the old Nurses quarters which is now accommodation at Nga Tawa girls school or that will be in next months blog. Make sure to leave a comment if you've been near the hospital lately!

Thanks for reading,
Nathan...