Bevendean Hospital (Part 1)
A Short History & My Memories
By Ruth Watts
I first came to Brighton in 1949 as a very young radiographer. I had been fortunately trained at the Christy Hospital in Manchester, whom I am sure many of you will know as the foremost hospital specialising in Cancer Research. I trained the hard way, working first as a dark room technician and then as an assistant radiographer during the week and going to lectures at the Manchester Royal Infirmary on Saturdays.
I arrived at the Royal Sussex County Hospital an eager and enthusiastic radiographer having been trained as both, as we did in those days, a radiographer and diagnostic radiographer. I was somewhat disillusioned when I found that others were not so in love with the profession as myself. I may say that through the whole of my working life I never lost this love.
I went from the R.S.C.H. to the New Sussex in Windlesham Road and hence to Hove General Hospital, with both now having been closed. I also served a long stint at Morley Street Chest Clinic where Consultant Chest Physicians examined and diagnosed TB subsequent to patients being admitted to Bevendean Hospital. Finally in 1962, having had two children and my husband who was a teacher of the deaf gaining his PhD in Developmental Psychology, I arrived at Bevendean Hospital as the Superintendent Radiographer.
At Bevendean Hospital we had a complete ward of male TB patients who at that time had their beds outside in all weathers both winter and summer. Female patients, who were assumed not to be so hardy, were nursed in an enclosed ward.
Incidentally, I expect many of you will remember, a few years before I joined the hospital there had been an epidemic of smallpox and the nurses and staff had not been allowed to leave the hospital while this epidemic was ongoing. I actually had a lot to do with a nurse whose face was badly pock marked through contracting this disease.
A Short History of the Hospital
The original Sanatorium at Bevendean was erected in 1881. The building consists of North and South blocks which seem to have been hurriedly thrown together. When Brighton was confronted by an outbreak of smallpox, and don't forget that both scarlet fever and diphtheria were very common in those days, it was found that the buildings being made of wood with felt covered roofs after 17 years had become rather weather worn and shabby. Reports to the Borough Council were full of the deficiencies of the wards and administration buildings in both condition and accommodation. The council determined to build a new Sanatorium with the help of a loan from the Local Government Board.
The new Sanatorium was completed and opened in 1898. It consisted of a new administration building, porters lodge, a disinfecting station and a laundry. A steam laundry still existed for a number of years when I first arrived at Bevendean.
Later in 1902 - 1905 two stone built blocks were erected, one for the treatment of scarlet fever and the other for patients suffering from consumption, or TB (tuberculosis) as we now call it.
The buildings with additions and alterations during the time I spent there, all 27 years, have gone to make up what we knew as Bevendean Hospital with of course the addition of an X-ray Department with modern equipment, an office, cloak room and washing and toilet facilities which were very necessary for all the examinations we performed.
A few years before I retired we obtained an image intensifier which we used in a theatre to investigate chest problems and to help identify terminally ill patients.
Now a word about the old working conditions for staff. We would like to admit hospitals and their function have changed for the better. Some of the rules and legislations at the turn of the century seem somewhat laughable.
In the Borough Sanatorium at Bevendean patients with nits had their hair cut away. Two combs and a bag were provided , one to sort out further nits and the other to comb the hair. The exchange of combs between patients was forbidden and combs and bags had to be washed and disinfected when patients left. Neglect of this duty was sufficient cause for sacking the nurse in charge.
Life for nurses in those days was hard and the Matron ruled with a rod of iron as indeed she did when I joined the staff. I therefore had to say to her very early on that she had no jurisdiction over me as I was answerable to my Consultant Radiologist.
However to return to conditions for the nurses personal precautions to avoid catch up infections. These were to be listed in minute detail for each nurse. Also lights had to be out and all chatter ceased by 10.30pm.
When in hospital, whether on or off duty, uniforms had to be worn. Nurses went on duty at 8am and the night staff came on at 8.30pm. With long hours and little time off nurses were supposed to spend as much time as possible out of doors and in the open air. Sisters had jurisdiction over the cleanliness of the wards and woe betide the maids if there was one speck of dust. How times have changed there was certainly no MSRA in those days.
The land on which the sanatorium stood was 10 acres in extent, 326ft above sea level and obtained by the corporation for the sum of £5,000 subject to the creation of buildings for the infectious sick, except on limited portions of the land.
In closing, change always brings problems and the Brighton Health Authority hardly seems to be serving our needs. It is difficult to understand with an overall loss of 50 beds at Bevendean and the closure of many other wards in different places.
This page was added on 28/09/2007.