one letter was acknowledged

The Letter I wrote to the Governor in this post is in fact the reason for the ward change happening, it was acknowledged via receipt in mail on Saturday the 16th, the day after my 2nd letter to the Governor regarding levels and fresh air and still no outside time by day 5 of being in the new ward was sent.

We will see what response to the 2nd and recent letter regarding continued lack of outside time will say.

The letter received on the 16th discussed in part not having staff to go outside at certain times also means people are entertained in other indoor activities.

Well, part of the reason the January 6, 2009 first treatment team meeting at the ex-Ward went south, was because we asked for outside time AND asked why she still was not attending groups (to earn a level!) One nurse at the meeting told Lindsay if she attended all groups she could "EARN a walk outside with mom".

The doctor at that meeting droned on about lack of funding to the point of insisting very heatedly to the advocate to "write a letter to your legislator". So we did.

In other words, someone was told to write me a letter explaining things (the letter stated she was moved to a new ward on the 11th, this of course I know because I walked with her through several wards to get to the new one, in a way that blew holes in the argument of flight risk to go outside, since we were inside the entire way to the new ward that has an exit access route to the enclosed basketball court area).

In other words, the point was missed, regarding outdoor time. It's not just about basketball being an activity she likes.

It's about fresh air, daily access to it, and daily exercise to promote well being and good health, and to individualize my daughter's case and consider that she has been locked up for 5 months total and 26 days at WSH the day that person wrote the letter to me.

It's good to know the letters to the Governor go through to the people who need to hear the story. But, my daughter still has not gone outside and at the last ward was not part of any groups on a daily basis, because one staff who will remain nameless, told me the staff could not take her to group until approved by the treatment team. This was told to me on Jan 6th as I entered the ward for that meeting. She had been taken to group once "on a free day" where anyone could go.

I have no idea if she has gone to groups from the 11-15 in the new ward, no one has told me anything. I do know she has not been outside, unless by chance she went out saturday evening after I left.

Indoor activity does not replace outdoor fresh air, a basic need for human sanity!

Recess is required in all elementary schools and PE is required in Middle and High School, I'd love a patient survey to circulate through WSH asking ALL patients about outdoor time and earning it, or wanting it.