By Wilfrid Edgecombe, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.S.
The history of the Harrogate and District General
Hospital
The "Appointed Day"
On the "Appointed Day," July 5th, 1948, the hospital was taken
over by the National Health Service and became one of the Group of
Hospitals in the Harrogate and Ripon area, administered by a
Hospital Management Committee under the Regional Board which
controls all the hospitals in the West Riding which were taken over
by the National Health Service.
The day-to-day running of the hospital was vested in a committee
known as "No 1 House Committee," and with it were linked the
Carlton Maternity Home in Leeds Road, the Heatherdene Convalescent
Home in Wetherby Road, and the Thistle Hill Hospital for infectious
diseases in Knaresborough.
After the takeover it was decided by a group of
well-wishers of the hospital to form a benevolent fund for the
purpose of providing amenities and benefits for patients and the
staff that were outside the scope of the National Health Service and
not obtainable from Exchequer funds. Former voluntary subscribers
were invited to continue their subscriptions and transfer them to
the fund, and many of them consented to do so.
Welcome support was also derived from various organisations in
the town, notably the Harrogate Cricket League, which has made a
substantial yearly donation. The fund has remained in operation up
to date but needs further steady support to enable it to continue
its activities.
The following are examples of the amenities and benefits
provided by the fund: the purchase of three harmoniums; provision
of sports equipment for the use of the staff; two expensive wheeled
chairs for the use of crippled patients; equipment for the
children's playground at Thistle Hill Hospital; toys for the
children's ward: Christmas gratuities; a substantial contribution
to the Toc H hospital library; and payment of transport to the
hospital of the Anglican and Free Church choirs for the Sunday
services. In addition the lady almoner, Miss Ramus, has a free hand
in rendering help in a variety of ways to needy out-patients. Tile
total annual expenditure of the fund is approximately £150.
The present constitution of the committee is as follows: Dr W
Edgecombe, chairman, Mr E W Fedden, hon secretary, Miss Hullah,
hon treasurer, Mrs I
