NHS Shock Therapy Controversy: Survivors Share Experiences

More than 250 people were subjected to Electric Shock Aversion Therapy, ESAT, in NHS hospitals between 1965 and 1973, according to a BBC investigation. Survivors like Jeremy Gavins, now 72, recalled enduring severe shocks that left him unconscious for three days.

He described the pain as akin to a jagged knife scraping his arm and mentioned ongoing PTSD and depression stemming from the traumatic experience. Another survivor, Pauline Collier, aged 80, detailed her treatment at 19, where she was strapped to a chair and shocked while shown images of men and women.

Survivors reported being coerced into treatment by teachers, priests, and GPs, with some, including a 12-year-old, not providing informed consent. The investigation revealed that many treatments were not formally recorded, suggesting the actual number of cases could be near 1,000.

The British Psychological Society has since abandoned ESAT, yet conversion practices remain legal in the UK. Calls for a formal apology from the government and NHS are intensifying, led by Lord Chris Smith, who stated the use of ESAT is horrifying and inhumane.

Minister for Equalities, Olivia Bailey, acknowledged the need to end conversion practices, describing them as abuse with no place in society. The government is now set to investigate the historical use of ESAT in the NHS.

The treatment at Crumpsall Hospital, where 73 were treated under Dr. Philip Feldman and Dr. Malcolm MacCulloch, is particularly highlighted as a significant example of this practice. The university involved, Manchester University, expressed regret for its part in the environment that allowed such unethical practices to occur.