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Stanley Matheson was hired in 1952 as
the first professional social worker at the Provincial Hospital. As part of his
job, he decided to record a history of the hospital because he thought that the
public should be aware of the hospital's role. These rules certainly reflect
the theme of caring that has been part of the institution's long history, and
are printed here as they appeared after Waddell left in 1875
1. Attendants are expected to devote their whole time to the Hospital, in the performance of the duties required of them.
2. They must expect a constant observation of the manner in which their duties are performed; and use their utmost endeavors to render all those entrusted to their care contented and comfortable.
3. They will be careful at all times to set a good example and shall explain to the patients that their restoration and comfort is the leading object of the institution.
4. In their intercourse with the patients, the attendants will treat them with due civility, avoiding violence and rudeness of any kind. All reasonable requests are to be properly attended to.
5. No attendant shall be excused, under any circumstances for striking a blow of laying violent hands on a patient, except in the clearest case of necessary self-defence. They are to keep cool under every provocation.
6. They will carefully avoid talking to the patients on the subject of the delusions, nor will they permit others to do so.
7. They will never allow patients to be laughed at, ridiculed, or harshly spoken to.
8. Deception must always be avoided, and no promises are ever made which cannot be unequivocally performed.
9. No attendant will be allowed to trade or barter anything with a patient, nor to retrieve a present from a patient.
10. Neatness and cleanliness will be most scrupulously required of the attendants, not only in regard to their own appearance, but in the patients and wards under their care.
11. Attendants will never allow strangers to enter the wards without permission of the Superintendent.
12. Visiting of attendants from one ward to another, except when called necessarily, is not permitted.
13. Each attendant is responsible for every patient under his or her care and is expected at any moment to say where such patients may be found.
14. They shall exercise the greatest of vigilance, so that while patients may consider themselves at perfect liberty, they shall be continually under the eye of the attendant in the dayrooms, galleries, airing courts, or grounds.
15. Patients suspected or known to have a propensity to suicide, escape or destructiveness, shall never be lost sight of, and all dangerous weapons must be carefully kept out of reach.
16. No person should pass through the wards, nor any door be unlocked, without immediately attracting the attention and occassioning the appearance of an attendant.
17. The patients are to be washed and properly dressed before breakfast, and are to be kept neat and tidy during the day.
18. All are to be bathed regular once a week, unless directions are given to the contrary. Baths should not be taken directly after a meal- two hours at least should intervene.
19. When the patients are at their meals it is the duty of the attendants to be constantly with them-to distribute food and to prevent improprieties. Knives, and forks must be counted after each meal.
20. Indisposition, refusal of food or medicine, any unusual conduct of appearance, and suspicious occurrence, should be reported without delay.
21. Whenever a patient escapes or is missing, immediate notice is to be given to the attendant in charge, and by any other person to whom the fact is known. Each attendant is to aid the others in watching suspected patients.
22. When the patients are out for exercise they are not to be left alone; constant attention is to be given that they not lie on the ground, or expose themselves to the cold in winter, or to the sun's rays in hot weather.
23. Attendants, when in charge of patients at work, shall on all occasions take a part in the labour, and encourage them to diligence and industry by their own good example.
24. Attendants will not be allowed to loiter in the kitchen or laundry.
25. Employees are not to leave the hospital without permission, and while absent their keys are to be left in the surgery. It will be their duty to report themselves immediately on return to the premises.
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