Hospital Corners

A recent hospital admission, lived experience in a psychiatric ward. When the corners of the walls collide limiting liberations is when human connection is needed most. In patient impatience feeds fear & loneliness. Isolation builds & the walls close in.

My photography series reflects my immediate environment from 12/10/2026 - 16/10/2026

This was not my first hospital admission and it's likely not my last.

I was not in 'auto pilot', I was in 'auto patient'.
No simulation, severe stimulation and scheduled dehumanisation.
Routine repetitive rounds marked time with medication.

Like an amazonian Amelia Earhart, a flawed female fighter pilot targets telling her truth and automatic animations are abandoned. Tempers flare and turbulance changes the temperature of trauma.
Defined by History not 'Her story', by puppet masters of patriarchy, not far from historical documentation targeting female hysteria and hystrionics, the rules are made clear.

Expectations to be the 'perfect patient', having grace under pressure in an imposed institution of military-like maternal myth.

Conditioned to be compliant,  keeping quiet, keeping 'mum' and passing with flying colours inside a pressure cooker of diagnoses and multiple compounding disabilities; Psycho-Social, Neurological and Cognitive.

Inconsistant doctors make notes of nonsense. A multitude of mistakes amongst misdiagnosis, mismanagement of medication, madness and mayhem.

Invisible illness disables my ability

Desperate with Depression, seeking solace from Day 1.

Anxiety ensued.

Bipolar Disorder they now say, until I came crashing down whilst navigating solo around the globe for this latest crisis to close.

Will I ever detour from this flight path?

Human kindness and compassion can make or break ones will, having someone in your corner breaks down those walls and leaves room to move, builds confidence & distances the depths of depression and knowledge that I am not my illness nor my diagnoses; Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,  Anxiety Disorder, Major Depression Disorder & Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The hospital corner is the staple of making a neat & tidy bed and is a reminder that 'Womens Work' is never enough.
RULE # 1:
• START at the foot of the bed, TUCK the end of the sheet between the mattress and bed base. DON'T just bunch the sheet, rather ensure that the sheet lays SMOOTHE between the two.
• GO to the head of the bed and PULL the other end of the sheet TAUT. TUCK the sheet under the mattress as you did at the foot of the bed.
• GO back to the foot of the bed and pick a corner to make your first hospital corner. Grab the sheet draping from the side about 40 cm from the foot of the bed.
• PUT one finger on top of the corner, LIFTING the sheet with the other hand.
• TUCK lower drape under the mattress.
• HOLD the corner in place and bring the sheet over. You want the fold on the top sheet to form a 45-degree angle.
• TUCK the rest of the side of the sheet under the mattress, WORK your way to the head of the bed.
• REPEAT on all four corners of the bed. As you TUCK, take your hand and SMOOTHE out any WRINKLES that may form in the sheet on the top of the bed.
RULE # 2:
Take the top sheet and spread it out over the bottom sheet. The end of the sheet with the large hem goes at the head of the bed. ALIGN the top of the sheet with the head of the mattress.
RULE # 3:
LAY your blanket on top of the sheet. Leave about 15cm between the top edge of the blanket and the sheet.
RULE # 4:
MAKE hospital corners with the sheet and blanket. TUCK in the end of the sheet at the foot of the bed between the mattress and bed base. Remember to make sure they lay SMOOTHE.
Pick a corner at the foot of the bed and make another hospital corner as described above. Remember to get your 45-degree angle and to continue to SMOOTH any WRINKLES that form while you TUCK.
FOLD the top of the blanket and the sheet down. GO to the head of the bed and STRETCH the blanket as close as you can to the sheet hem. Fold the sheet hem over the blanket.
RULE # 5:
FOLD both the sheet and blanket over approximately 10cm. Fold again leaving 45.5 cm from the head of the mattress to the fold. Now you can TUCK in the overhang on the sides. Remember to SMOOTHE those WRINKLES!