Improving Psychiatric Care for Older People

Claire Hilton has been a National Health Service psychiatrist in London, UK, for 18 years.  Her research has ranged from mental health of young people with sickle cell disease in Jamaica to clinical and historical aspects of old age psychiatry with a particular interest in the interface between history, policy and practice.

“Claire Hilton’s book brings to life the story of a remarkable woman’s crusade to improve services for older people in the 60’s and 70’s. … Anyone working with older people or anyone interested in the history of services for vulnerable will find this book a fascinating book with useful insights to help improve future services.” (Anitha Howard, Old Age Psychiatrist, Issue 70, January, 2018)“Buy the hardcopy to treasure, to read and to share with others. It tells the story of a talented woman whose original ambition was frustrated by injury. … We learn of the reluctance of the establishment to believe her and other witnesses … . It is here and needs to be read, loud and clear so that we can register a proper appreciation of what Barbara Robb did.” (Susan Mary Benbow, oldermindmatters.com, November, 2017)“This is a book that is essential reading for those interested in the history and development of psychiatric and learningdisability practice. … a goldmine of references that will provide on-going reading for researchers and students. It is well written with an engaging style. … This is a book for everyone working in health and social care services. It is also a book for the general public and those who are interested in wider social issues.” (Ibadete Fetahu, Nursing Times, nursingtimes.net, October, 2017)

• 1. Introduction: A strange eventful history.- 2. Psychiatric hospitals and older people: status quo or making changes?.- 3. Barbara Robb, Amy Gibbs and the ‘Diary of a Nobody’.- 4. Establishing AEGIS and writing Sans Everything: ‘the case’ and ‘some answers’.- 5. Reprinted before publication: plotting a route for Sans Everything.- 6. The inquiries: a lion’s den.- 7. Whitewash and after: ‘Most good is done by stealth’.- 8. Then and now: concluding remarks.