Elizabeth Casson

Dorset House

In 1926, Casson visited an occupational therapy centre in Bloomingdale Hospital, New York City, whilst on holiday, and decided that the UK needed a similar facility; Miss Constance Tebbit was the first Principal. The school's course would teach not only the medical subjects such as anatomy and physiology, but also occupational treatments such as weaving, bookbinding, and other crafts, as well as how to organise activities such as country dancing and how these activities applied to occupational therapy. She actively involved herself in the daily therapeutic activities, often inspired by her artistic childhood and build closer relationships between patients and staff, creating a community feel. A member (and later fellow) of the British Homeopathy Society, Casson also included homeopathic treatments in her programme for the patients.

Dorset House Clinic had space for 800 patients in residence during the 1930s. In 1938 Dr Casson appointed Miss Evelyn Mary Macdonald, a former student, as Principal of Dorset House School, a post she held for 33 years. The School moved to Bromsgrove during World War II. The building was damaged during the war, so in 1946, the School of Occupational Therapy moved to Oxford, whilst the patients moved to Clevedon. To ensure costs were kept down for the patients, Casson subsidised their treatment from her own funds. She began to release control of the projects in 1948, first by passing the school to a nonprofit company with her as vice-president and remaining as medical director. Then, in 1949, Casson created the Elizabeth Casson Trust which focused on occupational therapy treatment and education, with the majority of funds going to Dorset House school.

Outside of her work, Casson was a member of Bristol societies. She never lost touch with her Welsh roots, discussing the similarities between Wales and Bristol with the Lord Mayor at a meal in 1931 and becoming president of the Bristol Cambrian Society in 1934. She also became the president of the Soroptimist Club of Bristol between 1938 and 1939 and was vice president of the Bristol branch of the British Social Hygiene Council in 1939.

She was an advocate for women working in roles outside offices, suggesting government grants for women who wanted to be nurses or teachers With the Soroptimist club she gave talks to her fellow members, praising the influence of Octavia Hill and explaining that she was interested more in mental health than physical health. She advocated an ordered life and a happy atmosphere for everyone.

As the vice president of the Social Hygiene Council, she worked to ensure that the people of Bristol could give better sex education to their children, without shocking them.

Legacy In 1951, Casson received an OBE for her work establishing Dorset House and was also elected a fellow of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. She was considered a pioneer in the field of occupational therapy. She died in Bristol on 17December 1954 after suffering from anaemia.

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists holds an annual memorial lecture in Casson's name and the Callington Road Hospital in Bristol has a psychiatric intensive care unit named after her. Southwark, where Casson worked for Octavia Hill. To mark International Women's Day in 2022, the Royal College of Psychiatrists published a blog post entitled 'Dr Elizabeth Casson, 100 years on.'