[Report 1962] / Medical Officer of Health, Gainsborough R.D.C.

  • Gainsborough (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1962
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1962] / Medical Officer of Health, Gainsborough R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Under this plan the set up of hospitals in the Gainsborough area was to be altered. The County Maternity Home and the Reynard Maternity Home were to close and the beds replaced in a new Maternity Home at Lincoln. The John Coupland Hospital was to cease to be an acute hospital and become a geriatric hospital to replace Foxby Hill and Oakdene Hospitals. An enlarged hospital was to be built at Lincoln for all acute cases. No mention was made of the provision of out-patient facilities. Accident facilities were to be based upon Lincoln. The publication of this plan aroused great interest amongst the public. Protests were made by industries, by professions and the general public at large. The Health Committee and the Council registered their protests and asked for an early meeting with the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board to discuss the plan. A public meeting was held in the Town Hall and attended by 240 persons. Those present represented Gainsborough Urban District Council, Gainsborough Rurai District Council, Retford Rural District Council, Local Authorities, important organisations and industries in the town and adjoining areas. A very full and long discussion on the proposals contained in the Hospital Plan took place and very strong feelings were expressed against the proposals. The following resolution was passed: “That this public meeting of representatives of the town and district of Gainsborough— (a) do place on record its deep concern regarding the proposals contained in the report entitled “ Hospital Plan for England and Wales” dated January 1962 which if implemented would have far reaching adverse effects on the hospital services in Gainsborough. (b) do request the Urban and Rural District Councils of Gainsborough and the Rural District Council of East Retford to bring to the notice of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board immediately the strong disapproval of the residents against the proposals.” The Plan’s most serious alteration is to deprive the Gains- borough area of a maternity hospital. One must agree with the need for a large fully equipped and staffed hospital with full consultant cover. However, the vast majority of maternity cases are quite normal and will not need the facilities of such a unit. It will be for the small minority of abnormal or “ at risk cases.” If Gainsborough loses its maternity beds then all maternity patients would have to travel twenty miles to Lincoln. This would be unacceptable to many because of the difficulties with travel for their visitors. These patients, who are not ill, like to be near home where they can have regular visitors and hear of their home during their absence. SEVEN