Builth Cottage Hospital, A Centenary History 1897-1997, by Gwen Davies
Foreword | Acknowledgements | Prologue Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6
Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 |
Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Epilogue
The League of Hospital Friends, by Betts Pugh
Builth, Queen of the Wye, by Jim Davies
Chapter Six - THE DEATH
OF LORD SWANSEA and THE PROPOSED NEW WING
The sad news that the president of the Hospital, Lord Swansea,
had passed away was marked by the members standing in silent tribute
at the Annual Meeting in 1935. The Vice-President, the Rev
Lewis James said that he hospital had sustained a deep loss as
a President of the calibre of Lord Swansea would be impossible
to replace. He had devoted much time and energy to all aspects
of hospital life; he was a regular attender at all their meetings
and had the welfare of the hospital and its staff at heart at all
times. They would have happy memories of one who had presided
over them in a most pleasant and agreeable manner and he would
be sadly missed. Deep sympathy was extended to Lady Swansea
and her family.
However, the life of the hospital had to go on and the next project
to be discussed was on in which the late Lord Swansea had taken
a great interest and had received his full support.
THE PROPOSED NEW WING
This was a most important development and one which had been contemplated
for some time. The hospital had outgrown its original intention;
it had prospered greatly, but the building was now inadequate for
the work which was being undertaken. It was agreed that the
Builth Hospital could not be equalled for good administration;
the medical and nursing staff were of the highest standing and
the thanks of the Governors were expressed to them for all their
excellent work. It was the unanimous decision of the committee
that the doctors and nurses were deserving of better facilities
for the tremendous work that they were undertaking and the proposed
extension would give them the superior working area which they
needed to continue and expand.
Mr J S Davies showed great enthusiasm and interest in the proposed
plans and offered financial help it is was needed.
It was suggested that the additional wing should be of two floors
with the ground floor rooms providing accommodation for nurses
and maids; the upper floor to have five bedrooms. The nurses’ present
accommodation was quite inadequate with on nurse having to sleep
out at a cost of £20 per annum, and others sleeping in wooden
huts in the hospital grounds. The architect for the project
was to be Messrs T Edmund Rees of Merthyr, who had designed the
Merthyr Hospital and it was unanimously agreed that it should be
called the “LORD SWANSEA MEMORIAL WING” in memory of
their late president who had devoted so much of his life to the
hospital. The project had the strong support of the doctors
who said there was always a shortage of beds and the plan would
give them accommodation for three more patients. It was agreed
to meet with the architect for further discussion and aim for a
cost of £1,500.
At the A.G.M. held in 1936 Lady Swansea, who had been elected
President following the death of Lord Swansea, presided over the
meeting and reported that the sum of £1,200 had already been
collected towards the new building and the balance was expected
within the following three weeks. If this did not materialise,
Mr J S Davies said he was prepared to loan £250, free of
interest, for a period of 6 months. Lady Swansea was deeply
grateful and said that money had been received from all parts of
the country.
The new wing was duly completed and opened with great ceremony
by Lord Trevethin in May 1936. A tablet commemorating the
event can be seen on the outside wall at the back of the main building,
inscribed as follows:
THIS WING IS DEDICATED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ODO 3RD BARON SWANSEA, D.S.O., M.V.O.
PRESIDENT OF THE HOPSITAL 1924 –1934
IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES
May 1936
The new wing provided excellent accommodation for the nurses, all
of whom were expected to “live in”. If possible,
no local girls were employed as nurses as it was thought they would
be too familiar with the patients! The
total staff pre-war was four nurses on days and one on nights. During
their probationary period the wages were 8/- per week, plus keep,
rising to 30/- per week for an assistant nurse. Out of this
princely sum they had to buy their own caps, cuffs, belts and black
stocking and were on duty from 7 am until 8.30 pm, with tow hours
off during the day and one half day pr week. Late night
passes were allowed until 10 pm one night a week.
And still the lift was operated manually by the nurses pulling
on the ropes!
Support for the hospital was growing and subscriptions for the
year 1936 showed a tremendous increase. Special thanks were
given to Mr Jones, Dolfan, for his sterling work in collecting
subscriptions in his area and to Miss Jones, Llywnhowell. The
Rev Lewis James thought that the public should, however, be made
aware of the fact that the weekly cost to hospital for each bed
occupied was £2, while the fees paid by the patient were
between 7/6 and £1 per week., according to the ability to
pay. He was of the opinion that patients should know that
the hospital was not making a profit from the fees.
The weekly charge for Private Patients – those who occupied
the single rooms at the top of the stairs, had been increased to
three guineas. When a nurse was asked what a patient gained
by going “private”, apart from having a room to themselves,
she replied, “Not a lot, they do have a cloth on their tea
tray and expert immediate attention when they ring the bell!”. This
latter ruling caused some problems when two local businessmen,
both of whom were on the Hospital Management Committee, were private
patients at the same time. As each considered themselves
to be first in importance, the nurses had a hard job keeping up
with their demands.
1936 saw the appointment of Capt. Ralph
Woosnam, Cefnllysgwynne, to all the hospital committees. Capt
Woosnam’s late father had been one of the first committee
members and was President of the Hospital Management Committee
when the operating theatre was built, he had rendered loyal service
to the hospital for many years and it was thought fitting that
his son should follow him and be elected to the board.
By 1937 expenses incurred in running the hospital were increasing
at an alarming rate. The rise in the cost of coke, coal and
gas was to be investigated and an in depth look at all expenditure
was put in hand. The current increase was partly explained
by extra staff being appointed and the purchase of new linen which
was required for the new wing. The local Women’s Institute
had relieved part of this expenditure by presenting 18 new pillows
to the hospital.
It was also reported that the “Memorial Wing” had
finally cost £2,500, somewhat more than had been anticipated,
but Lady Swansea said that the debt would be cleared by a Garden
Fete which was planned for June, to beheld at Caerberis.
The first wireless installation had been fitted, the cost amounting
to £150 had been met by the News Chronicle. Lady Swansea
was to broadcast an appeal on behalf of the hospital and all members
looked forward with immense interest to hearing her voice on the
wireless.
The standard of catering at Builth Cottage Hospital had always
been of the very highest standard and each successive cook was
immensely proud of the reputation the hospital had acquired for
supplying imaginative and nourishing meals for the patients, many
of whom said “Being in Builth Hospital is as good as being
in a hotel”. The cost of supplying these meals was
somewhat reduced by the gifts of fruit and vegetables which the
churches and chapels in the area would give to the hospital following
their Harvest Festival Services.
Huge quantities of produce would be received – to be turned
into a year’s supply of jams, chutneys and marmalade by Matron
Davies, who for the annual salary of £100 would, in addition
to performing her duties as Matron, make all preserves needed by
the catering staff.
The hospital garden was in the capable hands of that splendid
gardener, David Thomas Gillis – known to all as “Gillis”. Mr
Gills had a wooden leg but this did not deter him from producing
a year-round supply of superb fruit and vegetables. In addition
to his gardening prowess, Gillis was a “universal blood donor”,
which meant that his blood would suit all types, and many a time
he was called in from his garden to donate blood for a patient
in need.
Eggs were given to the hospital in abundance, with farmers often
giving a “days lay”; this meant that all eggs laid
on a certain day would be donated to the hospital, which in the
case of as estate, such as Llwynmadoc, would mean a considerable
amount. If they received more than could be used within a
short period, the remainder of the eggs would be preserved in Isinglass
or Waterglass, for future use. Visitors often took fresh,
brown eggs as a gift for patients, in lieu of flowers or fruit. The
patients name would be written on the egg and handed into the kitchen
to be cooked for breakfast the following day.
The news that the Vice-President, the Rev Lewis James, Minister
of Alpha, had passed away, was recorded with sadness at the Annual
Meeting in 1938. Lady Swansea expressed sympathy with his
family and referred to the support he had given to the hospital
over many years. The Rev Caradoc Owen, Minister of Horeb
Congregational Church was elected Vice-President in is place. Other
vacancies on the House Committee were filled by Mr T Wilding and
Mr Llew Morgan, Headmaster of the Council School. At the
same meeting the Secretary reported that 19 new subscribers had
been signed up.
The Medical Report, given by Dr Pugh, showed that 206 patients
had been treated, 80 operations performed and 65 X-rays taken.
The following year, the numbers had increased to 229 patients,
97 operations and 96 X-rays. This, together with the appointment
of additional staff , the purchase of new equipment and higher
salaries being paid, meant that fund raising had to be extended,
subscription increased and economies made. Full credit was
given to Matron Davies and her staff for their untiring efforts
and to the committee members for their continuing hard work, but
the Treasurer reminded everyone that there could be no let-up if
they were to meet their financial obligations.
One popular fund raising event was organised by the Studtsfamily
on the fair ground, who each year on the day following the May Fair
used to run a “Hospital Benefit Night” with all takings
being donated to the hospital.
The President, Lady Swansea, suggested that a fitting memorial
to the late Mr H V Vaughan, who had died in 1937 and had been a
founder member of the hospital committee, would be to re-equip
the operating theatre with an operating table and other necessary
equipment and a Memorial Tablet to be put up in the theatre. This
was agreed to. Mr G E Sayce raised the question of whether
thy should apply for an “Iron Lung”, which Lord Nuffield
was giving, free to hospital on application. Dr Stephen Pugh
replied that, in twelve years only one case had necessitated the
use of such equipment. Members referred this to the House
Committee. Miss Grace Phillips, Llanfechan was elected to
the House Committee and Mrs Lewis James, in view of her long association
with the hospital, was appointed a ?Vice President. In 1939
Mr D F H Williams and Miss Nancy Williams, Llanfair gave a donation
of £1,000 in memory of their parents.
In the absence of Lady Swansea, through illness, the chair at
the 1940 meeting was taken by the Rev Caradoc Owen who reported
that the “H V Vaughan Memorial Fund” had reached the
sum of £305 and that the new operating theatre equipment,
which had been purchased with the money, had greatly improved the
facilities available for operations. Grateful thanks were
also recorded for the Orthopaedic Instruments which had been given
in memory of Lord and lady Trevethin by their son Trevor, these
were much appreciated. A brass plaque commemorating this
gift is to be seen in the hallway at the hospital:
IN MEMORY OF
JESSIE ELIZABETH
AND
ALFRED TRISTRAM LAWRENCE
BARON TREVETHIN
CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND
THE ORTHOPAEDIC INSTRUMENTS
ARE GIVEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY THEIR
SON TREVOR
The average stay of each patient in 1940 was 26 days and costs
were escalating rapidly. Mr Jim Eadie thought that heating
costs were much too high and Mr Llew Jones, in agreeing with this,
suggested that amore economical system could be devised and he
proposed that a heating expert be consulted. Mrs Graham Clarke
thought that the grocery bills were excessive, but it was pointed
out that extra supplies had been purchased for war time emergencies. Good
wishes were sent to the Secretary, Mr Tommy Jones, who had been
ill for some time and whose secretarial duties, in his absence,
had been carried out by Mr Meredith Jones of the Midland Bank. It
was decided that an office should be provided for the Secretary’s
own use as the workload was increasing and privacy was required.
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