joe hughes author                    

       

                  

             

Joe Hughes first came to England from his native Ireland in 1960 to train for the Catholic priesthood with the Divine Word Missionaries. Several years later, and with the Biblical words still ringing in his ears , 'Many are called but few are chosen', he returned home to Ireland unchosen! Later he trekked back to England to train as a Registered Mental Nurse (RMN)  at St Francis Psychiatric Hospital at Haywards Heath in West Sussex during the late 1960s. From there he completed his State Registered Nurse (SRN) training at the Whittington Hospital in North London. Drawn back to psychiatric nursing he went on to study for the Diploma in Nursing and also undertook management training and studied for a part-time teacher's certificate whilst running a clinical unit as a senior clinical charge nurse. Having worked in all of the hospital based clinical specialties he thrived in acute psychiatry where his true interests lay but ever eager for further challenges he became branch secretary of his local union where he also served at district and regional level.

He retired early from the NHS, following a thirty year career, having undetaken fresh study as a podiatrist and ran a successful visiting practice for over twenty years in addition to his writing and speaking activities.

PUBLICATIONS


WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR - LET ME SOW HOPE!

A DVD history of St Francis Psychiatric Hospital at Haywards Heath (1859 -1995) tells the story of the former hospital using on-screen rolling text tracing the hospital's history from Victotian times ranging from moral treatment back then through to the modern day talk therapies. With a soundtrack 'Asylum Symphony' composed by Joe's daughter Ciara the DVD features dozens of photographs of the former hospital and might appeal to those who are not book lovers. The DVD is available from Amazon.

my asylum 

 A well researched history and personal memoir of the hospital, Joe's time there and where he visits his thirty year nursing and trade union careers which were, at times, often controversial but also humourous and always enjoyable. This is a local history with a difference and not only for all readers of the history of Haywards Heath but also for those with an interest in the development of major events in psychiatry internationally and how these relate to the development of local services and treatments. The book is available from Amazon.

MADHOUSE  A Story of love, lust, violence and revenge

Set in St Anthony's psychiatric hospital in the South of England the sleeve notes say it all.

'Three things were certain. First, there was order and then there was chaos. Second, there was Delaney and Corrigan. Third, they found themselves thrown together in this stoy of love,lust, violence and revenge. The only question was who was the victor and who was the vanquished in the gruelling and starange world of the MADHOUSE?' 

Joe's novel is available from Amazon.

a sELF-gUIDED tOUR of st francis hospital, haywards heath (1895 -1995)

In this beautifully produced fold-out pamphlet Joe takes you on a circular walk of the former hospital pointing out many of its historically interesting features along the way. Walkers must keep to the roads within the new Southdowns Park complex and not stray onto the living areas of the park which are now a mixture of private and social housing. The pamphlet is free of charge and available at local libraries in Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill but in case of difficulty in obtaining one then contact Joe by Email, at the contact below, sending him your land address and he'll pop one in the post to you.

Joe offers a CONDUCTED WALK-CUM-TALK of the former hospital on a regular basis subject to demand. Keep an eye on the facebook Friends of St Francis Hospital website for forthcoming dates. TALKS are also available.

The FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL is a section of the St Francis Social and Sports Club. The section runs a facebook website - Friends of St Francis Hospital - which aims to maintain and further the history of the former hospital through its website, guided walks, talks, regular staff reunions and any other means agreed by the committee. Also if you are a former member of staff, working in any capacity either in the hospital and its services or those attached to it or in community, and would like an invite to the next reunion please Email your land address to our database secretary, Sheila Curran, at jecurran@yahoo

CONTACT ADDRESS: Joe Hughes, Secretary, Friends of St Francis Section, St Francis Social and Sports Club,  Haywards Heath,West Sussex, RH16 4EX      

EMAIL : joe.hughes2@sky.com

DISCLAIMER. Please note that Joe's publications are in no way formally related to, connected with or condoned by the FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL SECTION other than its possible mention in the course of any of his non-fiction work.