Perusing, for no particular reason, my fourth edition of the Red Handbook (published, I think, just after the start of the last century) I find this early reference to mental health nursing in people’s homes. Here are the relevant pages for those interested:
Note the sections implying that attendance in private houses is for the higher classes only, along with the description of all those things which should be done to reduce risk.
Interesting, too, that attendants are reminded that drinking alcohol on duty might not be the best of ideas. Advice like that never goes out-of-date.
For other posts drawing on this first-ever textbook for mental health nurses, try From ‘The Red Handbook’ to ‘The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing’ and Exam time.
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