Park Hospital 1919 to 1987
A Monthly chance to look at images of Staff, Patients, Wards and Events from the past.
Are any the faces familiar?
A past Friend, Granddad, Grandma or just a memory?
Each month we will show a numbers of images from the past with the year the image was taken.
Check each month over the year you may see a face you remember.
1946 TB PATIENTS ENJOY BEING OUT IN THE SUN
TB or to give it its full name Tuberculosis was for many year incurable and all that was prescribed by doctors was fresh air. All over the country sanatoriums or isolation hospitals were set up so that those affected could rest and be away from other they could easily infect. Park Hospital in Moggerhanger was one such place. Usually if one member of the family caught TB others would fall victim soon. Our records show many families where the mother and children were checked on this site and those confirmed were admitted.
In 1949 300 adults and children were entered into our admissions book. The wards were open on one side to the elements to allow patients to breathe what was thought to be life saving fresh air. In some cases, whether by luck, faith or determination the patients did survive.
Others were not so fortunate and so one building was set up as a mortuary.
It has been said by those who work here that at night in the winter a waterproof covering was placed over the bed and that snow would settle on this where it blew in. If a glass of orange squash was placed at the foot of the bed in the morning it would be frozen to form a lolly. This treatment would not go down well nowadays.
We can only thank the nurses and doctor who treated these patients as they risked infection themselves.
As can be seen in the photographs all was not gloom and despondence, there were many times for fun and laughter.
Luckily as time passed a cure was discovered and the hospital could be used for other purposes.