26: Chris Scanlon: What led to the demise of the Henderson Hospital? (Part One)

Why do services for people diagnosed as personality disordered so often collapse?

The Henderson Hospital was one of the outstanding treatment facilities for traumatised people in the period after the second world war. It was hugely influential for psychiatric practice and the devlopment of therapeutic communities in prisons and one of the most researched institutions in the world. Yet it closed through a lack of funding at a time when fresh money for the treatment of personality disorders was coming on stream. Why and who was responsible? Fiona Warren who participated in the research which illustrated the cost effectiveness of the Henderson and Chris Scanlon who worked there towards the end in 2008, discuss these matters.

From a distance the loss of the Henderson seems mystifying and nobody seems keen to take responsibility. We shall revisit this debate and if you think you would like to contribute to this debate or know someone who could do let us know.

Fiona Warren is a Research consultant, writer, trainer and coach. She worked for ten years as a researcher with  the South West London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust based at St Georges Hospital and the Henderson Hospital.  In 2005 Fiona took up a post as lecturer in psychology and eventually research director at the University of Surrey

Dr Christopher Scanlon is a Consultant Psychotherapist in general adult and forensic mental health in the NHS, he is also a Training Group Analyst at the Institute of Group Analysis. He has also worked at the Henderson Hospital the pioneering NHS facility for people with severe personality disorders.