Lake Alice Hospital – Have the Ghosts of the past finally gone?

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDMar 30 2010

New Zealand’s Lake Alice hospital near Bulls in Rangitikei, which used to be self sufficient rural psychiatric set up housing the criminally insane since 1950 has been shut down since October 1999 and since then the hospital has been shrouded in controversies and plans for rebuilding and setting up new units.

Former patients have made allegations of abuse in the units especially in the adolescent and children’s unit. The police are defending these allegations saying that the allegations against Dr Selwyn Leeks, who headed the hospital's child and adolescent unit in the 1970s are not based on sufficient evidence. This police inquiry has also drawn flak because of the insufficient coverage of all the complainants and the delay.

Lawyer Grant Cameron, who successfully represented a group of patients who won $10.7 million in civil settlements, believed police had enough evidence to prosecute.

"On my recollection of the file ... there was a very large amount if information which indicated that Dr Leeks should have been facing some sort of charges. However, the matter is for the police and what can you do."

He also agreed that the allegations had basis only in witness accounts and sometimes that was not accurate.

Criticisms of the Inquiry

In the civil case evidence regarding use of electric shock treatment as punishment in these units was presented. "That documentary evidence would have been pretty powerful in itself," Mr. Cameron said. He also went on to say that many of these patients were wards of state and did not have mental illnesses and use of ECT in them was inappropriate. "So it was complete abuse to apply ECT," he said.

The delay in the inquiry was cited as one of the major issues for criticism according to Mr. Cameron. "That's the criticism I think should been leveled. That instead of getting on with the job in 2002 and having it resolved in 2002, here we are eight years down the track and that's totally outrageous."

He also raised the issue of incomplete coverage of all complainants in the case by the police. Mr. Cameron said police had not sought his input.

Similar opinions have been voiced by Citizens Commission on Human Rights. Executive director, Steve Greene, said that at least nine complainants had not been interviewed by police as part of the inquiry. The Commission alleged that they had sends “screeds” of evidence that was disregarded by the police. Mr. Greene said that the Commission will now move the victims’ statements to the United Nations.

"The key thing about this is justice is not being seen to be done."

Defense from the Police

Police accepted the fact that some of the complainants were not spoken to. Says police spokesman Jon Neilson, “Some they did and some they didn't. We're not going into numbers." In reply to the question whether this was fair to the inquiry he replied, "That's a judgment call, I don't know."

As for refusing evidence sent by the Commission Neilson said that they had limited knowledge of the actual happenings and the evidence was of little use. He went on to say that as far as police were concerned, the investigation was complete.

Professor John Dawson, a mental health expert said that the stories from the claimants were likely to be documented and there was no need to speak to them again. A repeat interview might be abusing them in some ways he said.

Lake Alice to be put to new uses

Real estate agent Diana Hansen, who is marketing the property, is happy a decision has been made. "That's gone to rest. Lake Alice had a stigma before." She said that the Administration block will go on to be used as a backpackers’ hostel.