Timeline
A timeline of all the significant events that happened at Chelmsford Private Hospital, from the beginning of Dr. Harry Bailey's career in 1952, to his death in 1985
Graduation
Harry Bailey graduated from the University of Sydney with a medical degree and won Norton Manning memorial prize for psychiatry (Garton, 2007).
1952Travelling & Learning
Under the World Health Organization travelling scholarship, Harry Bailey studied trends in the treatment of mental illness. He observed techniques of sedation and psycho-surgery in the United States and Europe (Garton, 2007).
1954Neurosurgery Unit
Harry Bailey persuaded the New South Wales Government to fund a neurosurgery unit, called Cerebral Surgery and Research Unit (CSRU),in the state mental asylum, Callan Park, of which he was the director (Geason, 2007).
1957Superintendent
Harry Bailey became the Superintendent of Callan Park. But due to the lack of funding and the overcrowding, the facility was soon in chaos. Bailey, to much of his colleagues' surprise, went public with allegations about the hospital's mismanagement, theft and mistreatment of patients (Geason, 2007).
1959Resignation
Harry Bailey became well known in the media as the Royal Commission confirmed most of Bailey's allegations. But as a result of his actions, he was forced to resign from the hospital by his mentors, who were angered at his betrayal (Geason, 2007).
1961Chemlsford
Harry Bailey began administrating DST at Chemlsford Private Hospital. He recruited Dr John Herron, a former colleague at the CSRU, to come to administer ECT at night (Geason, 2007).
1963 - 1970First Death
A 28-year-old man, Antonios Xigis, admitted to Chelmsford with post-traumatic depression was treated with deep sleep therapy, which was recommended by Harry Bailey. Antonios Xigis's death was the first case directly related to deep-sleep therapy (Little, 1994).
1964First Media Reports
The first media report of suspicion of what was happening at Chelmsford hospital was in the Sunday Herald Sun, in regards to the death of a 23 year old man. In the Coroner's inquest, although it was thought that too much power had been given to the nursing staff to administer dangerous drugs, the Coroner was too impressed by Bailey's medical reputation and his justification for his therapeutic regime that he did not think Bailey was guilty (Garton, 2007).
1967Complaint to Authorities
Chelmsford nurse, M. Pett, made a complaint to the authorities about the way in which patients were being treated at Chelmsford and the illegalities occurring at the hospital, but was ignored (Geason, 2007).
1970Dr. John Gill
Dr. John Gill joined Chelmsford, after his family company bought a quarter share in the hospital. Previously a GP and investor, he was now in charge of the day-to-day running of the hospital (Geason, 2007).
1972Rosa Nicholson
Rosa Nicholson went undercover as a nurse at Chelmsford (Langmore, 2007) , following the death of a friend (Perry, 1990). She collected documents which exposed the irregularities and mistreatment occurring at the hospital.
1972Barry Hart
Barry Hart received DST and ECT at Chelmsford against his wishes, by Dr. Herron (Geason, 2007).
1973Julie Smith Confronts Bailey
Matron Julie Smith, a highly qualified psychiatric nurse from Chelmsford tried to confront Bailey and institute reforms regarding the treatment of patients. These were, however unsuccessful and she was forced to leave the hospital only four months later (Geason, 2007).
1976Government Enquiry
A government enquiry placed severe restrictions on psychosurgery. This was instigated by a surgery performed on Gwen Whitty to remove pieces of metal left protruding from a cingulotractotomy conducted 15 years prior. This surgery was created by Bailey for those patients who failed to respond to ECT and DST which he claimed had a success rate of 85% and even made some individuals more intelligent (Geason, 2007).
1977Scientology Against Bailey
The Church of Scientology, already fighting against psychiatry, obtained hospital records stolen from Chelmsford by nurse Rosa Nicholson and joined the battle against Bailey. (Garton, 2007)
1977Another Nurse, Another Complaint
Chelmsford nurse, Anna Borner, made a complaint to the authorities regarding the cruel treatment and subsequent deaths of patients occurring at the hospital. She too was ignored (Geason, 2007).
1978Revolts
Two revolts occurred within Chelmsford; one by nurses and one by doctors, whereby they ordered that Bailey leave and the use of DST stop immediately. Bailey continued to admit patients to the hospital, however, under the name of another doctor — Dr. Herron (Geason, 2007).
1978Investigations Requested
Labor Attorney General, Frank Walker, requested that the Minister for Health conduct investigations into Chelmsford (Geason, 2007).
1978The End of DST?
The use of DST concluded, except by Bailey. The Health Department's inspectors failed to detect this though, in their visits to Chelmsford. DST only stopped at Chelmsford once nurses refused to treat anymore of the DST patients (Geason, 2007).
1979Barry Hart Wins Case
Barry Hart's case against Dr. Herron finally reaches court (Geason, 2007)He wins the case against Dr. Herron and receives $60,00 in damages (Walters, 2009).
198060 Minutes
60 minutes airs an episode on Chelmsford, regarding the death of Miriam Podio (Garton, 2007).
1980Bailey Commits Suicide
Bailey charges of manslaughter were dismissed, however shortly after this he committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates (Garton, 2007).
1983Royal Commission
The Greiner Government established a royal commission into DST. The found evidence of the fraud and medical negligence that occurred there. Bailey was considered to be the sole cause of the mistreatment that occurred there. As a result, the New South Wales parliament banned the use of DST and created stricter regulations for the treatment of those with mental illnesses (Garton, 2007).
1988