August 7.
The main recommendations of the Ashworth Inquiry conducted by Sir
Louis Blom-Cooper have been highlighted before; some 20 years ago in the
pages of The Herald when it reported the views of the radical
organisation, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights; Psychiatric
Violations.
As former secretary of the CCHR, I recall a meeting at the Scottish
Office at which a senior civil servant expressed surprise that a
voluntary group was campaigning for better conditions for those detained
in mental institutions.
The role of The Herald in helping to bring about reform and change
within Scotland should not be underestimated, and this acknowledgement
to those concerned 20 years ago is well deserved.
Could not a city square be renamed in honour of Norman Stewart, then
chairman of the CCHR, for his efforts to improve psychiatric treatment
two decades ago? Alas, Norman never spent 37 years on Robbin's Island.
Brent Hodgson,
61 Sorrel Drive,
Ayr.
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