The Secret Hospital

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I have been trying to track down 'The Secret Hospital' - a 2 part documentary aired in 1979 (Yorkshire television)

Rampton: THE BIG HOUSE (22/5/79)

Eastdale: THE WAY OUT (23/5/79)

And followed in 1986 with a third part:

Len Harding: BORN A NUMBER.

I've tried archives, my libraries and trawled the internet and had no luck; short of writing to the producer, who now has a senior position with the BBC and is probably very busy, I can't think what else to do!

If anyone here has this (I don't think it was ever available for general release) I would be eternally grateful if I were able to send me a copy or allow me to copy the original. I would of course cover any costs.

Hope someone can help

thankyou

FC x

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Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.

Not a clue.

But I had a look about.

Found this on Hansard of you hadn't seen it before -

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1980/nov/11/rampton-hospital

And there was a page with a follow up story called The Rampton Report in 1980 too. (YTV)

http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/326397

But 1979 - that was before VCR wasn't it??! :specs:

I'd write to the producer - if he's that busy he'll have an exec support officer who will probably complete your request. I'd give it a go - what have you to lose?

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Oooh, crikey. It hadn't occurred that may have been well before VCR's were commonplace.

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Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.

oh you young 'uns :vdgmg::grn:

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Has anyone been able to locate these documentaries? I would love to see them and really am not sure how to go about finding them at this point. I have searched online to no avail. Anyone??

Amy

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Hi Amy - after searching low and high I tracked down a copy with these people

http://www.bfi.org.uk/about/contact.html

the only way to view it is on their premises in London. You call them in advance and they book a time slot and provide you with a viewing cubicle and headphones etc.

So it's not an easy task, but it's a rare piece so it's probably worth it.

Joe

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Thanks Joe. Can't say I'll be heading to London anytime soon, but I do appreciate the info. It is a little frustrating that in this day and age of being able to buy and view so much online that this one is so difficult to get a hold of.

Amy

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Hi Amy - after searching low and high I tracked down a copy with these people

http://www.bfi.org.uk/about/contact.html

the only way to view it is on their premises in London. You call them in advance and they book a time slot and provide you with a viewing cubicle and headphones etc.

So it's not an easy task, but it's a rare piece so it's probably worth it.

Joe

I am also looking for the documentary about Rampton "Secret Hospital". What a coincidence you posted only a few days ago. Well done.

It's disappointing no one has uploaded a copy somewhere.

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I was able to contact the Programme Sales division of ITV and they agreed to make a copy available for purchase for the purpose of training and education. The cost is 118 pounds (which I think is about 185 US dollars), per each 60 min. episode. That is a bit steep for me. I would love it if we could pull a bunch of us together to buy them:) Still very expensive, however. If some of you have access to education funding you could buy them. I wish they were more easily accessible. If anyone has any ideas I am open to them!

Amy

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I was able to contact the Programme Sales division of ITV and they agreed to make a copy available for purchase for the purpose of training and education. The cost is 118 pounds (which I think is about 185 US dollars), per each 60 min. episode. That is a bit steep for me. I would love it if we could pull a bunch of us together to buy them:) Still very expensive, however. If some of you have access to education funding you could buy them. I wish they were more easily accessible. If anyone has any ideas I am open to them!

Amy

That 118 pounds you mentioned is a lot of money! Surely there must be a DVD available of "The Secret Hospital". Of course, I wouldn't dare suggest downloading from a Torrent but if ever you come across one .... .

I notice "The Secret Hospital" is listed by the Daily Mirror newspaper as one of the UK's 10 most influential TV programmes. http://preview.tinyurl.com/yeg9kpl and I heard the documentary won an Emmy (although I don't see it listed on the Emmy website).

How sad the documentary is not more widely avialable.

--miller

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Hi,

yes it's a shame it's not easier to get hold of a copy. --miller; i've searched forums, hospital libraries, torrents, youtube, attempted to contact some of the people involved in the making of the documentary etc etc and to no avail.

I guess that it is not in high demand, despite critics rating it as so important an expose on asylums. That said, it is pretty unusual to not be able to track down a documentary in this day and age. I imagine that the NHS are in no rush to dredge up the past; It's most likely a heart breakingly depressing watch and certainly wont paint the nhs in the sort of light that they'd wish to be seen thesedays.

Certainly if anyone wanted to chip in and buy a copy then I would be interested. Of course, copying that and distributing it between ourselves would be strictly against the law and I couldn't condone it ;-0

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I know your request for a copy of the Secret Hospital was a long time ago but did anyone manage to obtain a copy?

Would be very happy to hear from any nurses that worked at Rampton hospital between the years of 1972-1977..

I have some very interesting information to anyone researching Rampton during the 70's

Many thanks..

[email protected]

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