Bedford District Nursing Association

Ref: NB2, entry form the Bedford District Nursing Association Minute Book, 1917
(Bedfordshire Archives & Records Service)

Wednesday 28^th February 1917: The annual meeting of the Bedford District Nursing Association took place this afternoon, held at the Institute, Harpur Street, and presided over by Mr Geoffrey Howard. The primary object of the Association is to provide nursing assistance to poor people in their homes free of charge, or for a low fee. It was reported that the organisation was in the black, saved from debt by donations made at the St George’s Flag Day. More volunteers were needed to help collect donations. 14,615 home visits had been made during the year and of these, 12,687 were free of charge. The Committee gave their sincere thanks to the following for donations:

-the Committee of the St George’s Flag Day

-the Trustees of St John’s Hospital

-the Board of Guardians

-Primrose League Working Guild

-Bedford Women’s Liberal Association

-Holy Trinity Senior Girls’ Bible Class

The Committee were also grateful for the donation of 272 pints of Bovril jelly and soup; 148 dinners from joints, poultry, game and fish; 75 puddings and jellies; Benger’s Food; small bottles of Bovril; eggs and milk. The Ladies’ Committee of the Bedfordshire Hospital Guild have also supplied special diets to the patients under the nurses’ care.

In approving the annual report, the Rev W. H Davis pointed out that the men on the Committee did very little, since the ladies were carrying out the work very ably. A Mrs Alfred Paine was praised in particular for her enthusiasm and energies. An appeal was made for more donations from the public, bearing in mind population increases in the districts of Queen’s Park and South Bedford. As a result of the war, it was getting more difficult to secure provisions for poorer people. Total expenditure for nurses’ salaries, uniforms and board for the year was over £354, not including other expense for fuel, printing, insurance, equipment etc. Amongst the nurses’ patients are the mothers, wives and children of soldiers and sailors.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 2/3/1917

Red Cross Hospital at Eaton Socon

V.A.D. Recruitment Poster (Wikimedia)

Wednesday 10th February 1915: A hospital was set up in the home of Mrs Mary Butler at Eaton Socon on 13th November 1914 and is now affiliated to the 1st Eastern General Hospital as a convalescent home.[1] Mrs Butler as Matron is now supervising the treatment being given there by  the nurses of the Eaton Socon No.8 Bedfordshire V.A.D.; catering is being provided by cooks from the same detachment with Mrs Thornhill as Commandant. Mr R. Coates MRCS is giving his services voluntarily as physician and surgeon. Financial support has been provided by Mrs Catherine Alington of Little Barford and many people in the village have helped to furnish the wards.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 29th January and 12th February 1915; WW1/NU3

---

[1] Mary Butler was married to Lieutenant Colonel Francis Noel Butler who commanded the 5th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment from January 1912 to 25th January 1915 when he resigned his commission due to illness. He returned to the Regiment in 1916 and commanded the 1st Battalion at the Western Front from December 1916 to May 1917. [Source: Bedfordshire Regiment: OfficersPhotographs and Biographies from the 5th Battalion]

[2] 170 soldiers had been treated at the hospital by the beginning of November 1915 with an average stay of 21 days. No government funds or other grants had been received as the hospital had been financed by Mrs Alington since its inception. 

Raw Beef Tea

Image: Wikipedia

15th September 1914, Bedford

Recipe for Raw Beef Tea for convalescents

1 tablespoonful beef
Water
A little salt if allowed

Stir well together, leave for 2 hours covered, and stir occasionally.
Strain and squeeze through muslin.
Serve in a coloured glass to mask the colour. This will only keep good 12 hours.

Source: Lecture notes of E.M.Bacchus, of Newnham Lodge, Newnham Road, Bedford, Red Cross Nursing Detachment No.10, August 1914 [Z160/287]

Hospital Beds for Soldiers

The County Hospital, Bedford, 1909 [Z1306/10/6/3]

6th September 1914, Bedford: The County Hospital at Bedford has offered fifty beds to be used by wounded soldiers and expects to receive its first military patients any time now. They have asked for help from anyone able to lend bedsteads and mattresses to the hospital and also need bedding and clothing for fifty men. 

The training given to nurses by the Red Cross includes advice on how wards should be arranged:

Red Cross Nursing Notes: Accommodation for Sick Ward

Walls. Should be good thickness. Their main face smooth, impervious surface, rounded angles at floor & ceiling, so as to facilitate cleanliness and avoid harbouring dust.

Ventilation. Windows on opposite sides, one facing S.E. and the other N.W.

Windows. With double hung sashes & fan light above, they should fall inwards with side cheeks to prevent down draught.

Warming. Must be sufficient. The best system is that combined with ventilation & which warms incoming air. Bath must be warmed with hot water for baths, waste pipe of sink should have 3 inch base drain.

Closets and sinks. Should be in an annex.

Space per patient:
- 12 linear feet of wall space
- 144 square feet floor space
- 2000 cubic feet air space
NB. This applies to ward and hospital but as purity of air depends upon how often it is changed a less cubic capacity can be used in exceptional cases if ventilation is efficient.

Source: Lecture notes of E.M.Bacchus, of Newnham Lodge, Newnham Road, Bedford, Red Cross Nursing Detachment No.10, August 1914 [Z160/287]

---

[1] Ethel May Bacchus was born in Croydon c.1883 but had moved with her family to Bedford by 1891. She died in Bedford in 1976 age 94.