Where did Warlingham Park Hospital go?

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I have been away for about 20 years in Australia and visited UK a short while ago for the first time to catch up with some relatives. I visited several places and caught up with some 'old' mates but when I went to find the WPH Psych Hospital in Surrey the whole place (Except the clock tower) had dissapeared.

Any of the readers know when this happened? Where did the patients go? Where did all the staff go? I lived in the nurses quarters for over 3 years and completed my Psych training. Enjoyed lots of great friends, Christmas concerts, folk club, social club, footy club, internal radio station, nursing home parties and playing disc jockey! I also did a fair amount of nursing. All that is on the grounds now are several very exclusive type private homes. Coming back to UK again soon and would like to hear from any 'old' staff. :coollook: :balloons: (Chris Webster RMN RN)

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Hi Chris, Lots of the big old asylums were run down and closed in the 80's/90's shift to community care, and the land sold off to fund the transition.(Ha Ha) By and large care is now provided in hostels/B&B and elderly care in Nursing/Residential homes. Friends Reunited do a workplace section you might try. Good luck!

http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/archwarlingham.html

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Hello Donmurry, thank you for the info. Yes I will put out some requests for call back in case there are any other nurses still around. Probably retired, nearly retired, moved off around the world, changed career or died!

Great site you gave, I will monitor it. Once it has been fully developed it could be very interesting.

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Hi Mr. Chris,

My stepmum is a PA at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust - this is the trust that took over the running of Warlingham Hospital. She used to work at the hospital too. About 5 years ago, the hospital was closed down and turned into "Great Park," a housing development. The patients were dispersed and the Trust is now run from Croydon.

I'll ask my stepmum how you could go about contacting the staff from Warlingham Hospital.

Regards,

Julie

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Thanks Julie, As I get older there are little bits of nostalgiaizm that creep in every so often. Keep in touch. :p

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hello chris

I know this is a while since you last looked but I noticed you worked at warlingham park hospital!!! My fathers brother was a patient there for many years and died there too. did you nurse there before 1980!

Are you still in Oz by the way. I emigrated here in 1994 I retired from the Royal Navy as a nurse and came here to Brizzy.

thanks Linda Bushell

:nurse:

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Specializes in med/surg.
Hi Chris, Lots of the big old asylums were run down and closed in the 80's/90's shift to community care, and the land sold off to fund the transition.(Ha Ha) By and large care is now provided in hostels/B&B and elderly care in Nursing/Residential homes. Friends Reunited do a workplace section you might try. Good luck!

http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/archwarlingham.html

Now many of the original patients (& ones that would have been placed there) can be found in our overcrowded jails or asleep on a park bench/under a bridge in any major city!!:uhoh3:

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I worked in WPH and in its community servcies from 1988 - 1999. Ahh, those were they days. Fond (and hazy) memories of nights in the social club, parties in Ralph's House, etc, etc, etc

AnthonyC

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Specializes in Operating Theatre and Occ. Health.

My training school is now a block of luxury flats and a friend actually lives in what used to be the Matron's flat!

Feels so bizarre when I ring him!

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It's great what a Google search comes up with:D

I worked in WPH from 1967-1970.

I remember Jimmy Brown,Jock Beaton,Steve Horgan,Claude Colbert,Dharum Santchurn,George Coyle,PJ McHugh,John Kelly & brothers,Pat Kelly,Dennis O'Brien,Kevin Moylan(whom I have met up with)Danny Quigley(I will never forget the whisky drinking competition with Danny)at the social club.

I have a few pics hanging around somewhere.

Aww the memories........

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Specializes in Adult Mental Health.

Hi Chris, just seen your post. I was in your set for a couple of years. I moved away from Warlingham in 1989. Heard about the hospital but haven't been back to see what it looks like now. I'm still in A.M.H. working in the community down in Havant in Hampshire. We have an acute unit and I do a few shifts there when I'm 'hard up'

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Can I remind members not to post names of people etc. I know some of these posts are old and things do and have changed (terms of service). Mentioning names is one of them. Also remind members not to post email addresses. If you want to try and contact people please use the pm system once you have 15 or more posts.

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