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Post War - early Days of the N.H.S. In the post war years there was a shortage of medical staff, probably due to the "call-up" at the age of 18. Nursing in a Cottage Hospital - Early Days of the N.H.S. This hospital was run by the local G.P.'s and the nearest A&E department was some miles away. We had an X-ray machine (rather ancient) but no radiographer. Minor casualties e.g. wrists and ankles came to us, and we as nurses had to learn to take x-rays and then ring the G.P. who would see the patient. We performed operations such as hernias, VV's, appendectomy and other minor surgery. These were performed by the local G.P. who would first give the spinal anaesthetic then continue the operation with a trained nurse assisting and one nurse available if needed. This hospital got through quite a lot of work at very little cost. Next door to this hospital was a small maternity unit, and when they were short of a midwife, I had to relieve them. Part II Midwife Training 1946-7 After doing my part I midwifery training at the Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford, I did my part II midwifery with the Queen's District Nurses in Camberwell, London. The district nurses and midwifery were not included in the N.H.S. until a short time later after the hospitals. Our patients were assessed and paid what they could afford. The full fee was £3. That included the cost of the accounchement set, the delivery and 12 days nursing care and all drugs necessary. Most patients only paid 7s/6d (about 40p) and 12s/6d (about 60p) or nothing at all. We did our own anti-natal clinics with any problems referred to the G.P. At this time with men being discharged from the armed forces, after being away for years, the birth rate soared and we were very busy. The only way we could be sure of a night in bed was to sleep out on our one day off per week. When we were called out at night, if we were back before breakfast we would be given a list of nursing for the morning. We soon learnt to drag time out and arrive back after breakfast! We visited our patients morning and evening for 12 days. These were the days of true poverty. We kept a stock of baby clothes to give where necessary (and sometimes food) and we were shown how to convert a drawer into a cot for the new born baby if there was nothing else available. We delivered primipara (first born) and multi-gravider. I delivered one patient of her 11th baby and it was the first girl. Father was delighted, mother wasn't as it meant a bed all to herself and she couldn't put her in the bath with boys. The brothers were disappointed, as they wanted their own football team! Transport This, for us pupil midwives, was a pedal cycle. We had one car, but that was used only by the senior midwife. We were very often called out at night but never had any trouble. Although it was a very rough area, the people of all ages respected a nurse and were always ready to help us. I quite often had to ask directions. The First World War with so many millions of men lost, left a generation of spinsters. This applied to a lesser degree to World War II. The two main professions for women at this time were nursing and teaching. These two professions gained a lot of recruits. These were dedicated women without the home responsibilities, who were able and did give their whole lives to the job. Sadly that generation has gone. Margaret Morris |
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page last updated 1 MAY 2001 |
