Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1929-02-22 - 1994-12-31 (Creation)
- 1929 - 1970 (Accumulation)
Level of description
Medium
Format
Status
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Following an amendment to the Lunacy Act 1903 in 1920, a Board of Visitors system was introduced in Western Australia for the protection of patients in psychiatric hospitals.
A Board of Visitors was established for each mental institution in the State. Each Board consisted of two medical practitioners, one lawyer, one male and one female lay person. The Boards were empowered to enquire into the workings of the hospital, make recommendations and also had authority to discharge patients. The Boards operated independantly of the Public Health Department as well as the hospital which the Board visited. The Boards provided an independant avenue to patients who were concerned about their rights or welfare.
The Board of Visitors system was replaced by the Council of Official Visitors following the introduction of the Mental Health Act 1996.
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This series consists of a single correspondence file of the Board of Visitors for the Heathcote Mental Hospital.
(The file in this Record Series was previously listed at the State Records Office at reference: AN 120/13; Accession 1548).