Barbara Robb
Barbara Robb (née Anne, 15 April 1912 – 21 June 1976) was a British campaigner for the well-being of older people, best known for founding and leading the pressure group AEGIS (Aid for the Elderly in Government Institutions) and for the book Sans Everything: A Case to Answer.
Barbara Robb | |
|---|---|
Robb c. 1941 | |
| Born | Barbara Anne 15 April 1912 Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 21 June 1976 (aged 64) London, England |
| Alma mater | Chelsea School of Art |
| Occupation(s) | Psychotherapist and campaigner |
| Known for | Founder of AEGIS |
| Spouse | Brian Robb |
A professional psychotherapist, Robb founded AEGIS after witnessing inadequate and inhumane treatment of one of her former patients, and other elderly women, during a visit to Friern Hospital. AEGIS campaigned to improve the care of older people in long-stay wards of National Health Service (NHS) psychiatric hospitals. In 1967, Robb compiled Sans Everything: A Case to Answer, a controversial book, detailing the inadequacies of care provided for older people, which prompted a nationwide scandal. Although initially official inquiries into these allegations reported that they were "totally unfounded or grossly exaggerated", her campaigns led to revealing other instances of ill-treatment, which were accepted and prompted the government to implement NHS policy changes.