Lost_Hospitals_of

VOLUNTARY HOSPITALS

COTTAGE HOSPITALS

Cottage hospitals (village hospitals) provided immediate treatment for local patients who would otherwise face a journey to their nearest large hospital. Although such hospitals had existed before, the Cottage Hospital movement began to gather pace in the 1860s.

Such hospitals proved very popular. Their size varied - some could be small and home-like with only four beds and a live-in nurse. Most had a small dispensary and an operating theatre.

Later, successful cottage hospitals were built to a larger scale. After WW1 some were built as war memorials.

The local population supported their cottage hospital, raising funds and donating produce and other goods.

Cottage hospitals usually did not admit certain categories of patients, e.g. epileptics, the mentally or chronically ill, or maternity cases.

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LOST HOSPITALS OF LONDON
	A brief history of healthcare provision in London

	VOLUNTARY HOSPITALS COTTAGE HOSPITALS Cottage hospitals (village hospitals) provided immediate treatment for local patients who would otherwise face a journey to their nearest large hospital. Although such hospitals had existed before, the Cottage Hospital movement began to gather pace in the 1860s. Such hospitals proved very popular. Their size varied - some could be small and home-like with only four beds and a live-in nurse. Most had a small dispensary and an operating theatre. Later, successful cottage hospitals were built to a larger scale. After WW1 some were built as war memorials. The local population supported their cottage hospital, raising funds and donating produce and other goods. Cottage hospitals usually did not admit certain categories of patients, e.g. epileptics, the mentally or chronically ill, or maternity cases. Next section: Isolation hospitals Previous section: General hospitals Return to Contents list
	References Barry G, Carruthers LA 2005 A History of Britain's Hospitals. Sussex, Book Guild Publishing. Emrys-Roberts M 1991 The Cottage Hospitals 1859-1990. Motcombe, Tern Publications.
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