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Lake Alice Hospital

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Coordinates: 40°07′33″S 175°20′13″E / 40.1258°S 175.3369°E / -40.1258; 175.3369
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Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital
Aerial view of the hospital estate.
Map
Geography
LocationLake Alice, Rangitikei, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand
Coordinates40°07′33″S 175°20′13″E / 40.1258°S 175.3369°E / -40.1258; 175.3369
Organisation
Care systemPublic
TypePsychiatric
Services
Emergency departmentNo
Beds960
History
OpenedAugust 1950
ClosedOctober 1999
Links
Websitehttp://www.lakealicehospital.com Unofficial
ListsHospitals in New Zealand

Lake Alice Hospital was a rural psychiatric facility in Lake Alice, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. It was opened in August 1950, and had a maximum security unit. Like many New Zealand psychiatric hospitals, Lake Alice was largely self-sufficient, with its own farm, workshop, bakery, laundry, and fire station. It also had swimming pools, glasshouses, and vegetable gardens.

The facility slowly shut down during the mid-1990s, finally closing its doors in October 1999.

The buildings and 56-hectare (140-acre) grounds were purchased in July 2006 by Auckland accountant and property developer group Lake Hicks Ltd.[1]

Plans to develop the former psychiatric hospital were scrapped after the owners fell into financial difficulties. The property was sold again in December 2008. The new owners intend to demolish most of the buildings including the infamous maximum security unit. A few buildings such as the administration block will remain and the land will be used for farming.[2][3]

Abuse investigation

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Former patients of the hospital's child and adolescent unit made allegations that abuse took place there during the 1970s, including the use of electroconvulsive therapy without anaesthetic and paraldehyde injections as punishment.[4][5] The New Zealand government issued a written apology in 2001, and has paid out a total of NZ$10.7 million in compensation to a smaller group of 183 former patients [6][7] but refused to acknowledge and offer redress for the long term effects of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and torture. This forced applications to the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) in 2019.[8] In the Crown's own internal business policy documents it stated it would not recognise long term effects of abuse and would then categorize different forms of abuse and torture in a payment matrix.[9]

The New Zealand Police conducted an investigation dubbed Operation Lake Alice, which included interviews with former staff and 63 former patients.[10] In June 2021, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care held an 11-day hearing into the practices of Selwyn Leeks and the Adolescent Unit.[11][12] On 8 June 2021, police announced they would lay charges after finding evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Leeks and one other former staff member, then in their 90s, were deemed unfit to stand trial due to ill health and were not formally charged. Leeks died several months later in January 2022.[13] One other surviving former staff member will face prosecution.[14][15]

Redress

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On 27 May 2024, a former child and adolescent patient of Lake Alice Hospital won a court appeal for ACC to cover injuries suffering during electro-shock therapy during the mid-1970s.[16]

On 30 October 2024, cabinet minister Erica Stanford confirmed that the New Zealand Government would address a parity issue in a NZ$6.5 million compensation settlement that it had reached with 95 Lake Alice survivors in 2001. Survivors received an average of NZ$41,000 in individual payments, with NZ$27,000 being deducted in legal fees for each claimant. Further claimants received an average of NZ$70,000 since the New Zealand Crown covered their legal costs. However, these reimbursements would not be adjusted for inflation.[17]

  • Workshops and maintenance area at dusk (2003)
    Workshops and maintenance area at dusk (2003)
  • Villa 12 in springtime (2003)
    Villa 12 in springtime (2003)

References

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  1. ^ Miller, Grant (27 July 2006). "Buyer and Price of Lake Alice a Mystery". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2007.[dead link]
  2. ^ "New vision for Lake Alice". 12 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Newspaper articles & News - Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital New Zealand". Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  4. ^ Murphy, Padraic (11 July 2003). "Probe on Shock Doctor Claims". The Age. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
  5. ^ Smale, Aaron (7 July 2021). "Victims allegedly tortured by New Zealand psychiatrist fear time is running out for justice". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  6. ^ Johnson, Martin (29 August 2006). "Psychiatrist Must Pay $55,000 After Sex Abuse Case". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
  7. ^ Johnson, Martin (21 July 2006). "Lake Alice Doctor Pre-empts Tribunal". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  8. ^ McRae, Andrew (25 June 2021). "Lake Alice survivor: 'Their blood is on the government's hands'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  9. ^ "MSD Historic Claims Business Process and Guidance Appendix: Payment Categories" (PDF). Ministry of Social Development. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Operation Lake Alice concluded - criminal charges filed". New Zealand Police. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit | Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry".
  12. ^ McRae, Andrew (30 June 2021). "Lake Alice abuse inquiry finishes its public hearing: 'Finally our voice has been heard'". RNZ News. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Notorious Lake Alice psychiatrist Dr Selwyn Leeks dies". Stuff. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Criminal charges filed against former Lake Alice staff member". Stuff. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Operation Lake Alice Concluded - Criminal Charges Filed". www.scoop.co.nz. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  16. ^ Ellingham, Jimmy (27 May 2024). "Former Lake Alice patient wins court appeal for ACC to cover electric-shock injuries". RNZ. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  17. ^ Ensor, Jamie (30 October 2024). "Government reveals next steps for Lake Alice survivors after Abuse in Care findings". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2024.

Further reading

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Smale, Aaron (26 July 2023). "The Lake" (Podcast). Stuff. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

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