Teignmouth and Shaldon is staging an exhibition this year entitled "Bedpans and Bandages to coincide with the 50th year of Teignmouth Hospital.
This was the first new hospital to be built after the inception of the N.H.S. in 1948. It was opened by the Minister of Health, the Rt.Hon. Iain McLeod, in September 1954. It was also featured in the "Nursing Mirror" of that date.
The exhibition covers the story of local healthcare, from the ancient Maudlin Hospital, or lazar houses to farmhouse and herbal cures and then tracing the Dispensary and Infirmary, established in 1848 from the detail in the Minute and Report Books.
Teignmouth Hospital has had several location moves forced upon it. The first because land was needed by the Great Western Railway, then an out-dated Victorian building was superceded by a purpose-built hospital in 1926. During the night of 8th May 1941, ten bombs fell on the hospital and surrounding hospital killing three nurses and seven patients. Temporary accommodation had to be found during and after the War until the new building was opened fifty years ago.
As well as telling our healthcare story the display includes an interesting but gruesome collection of medical and optical instruments, photographs and memories of staff and patients and even a model nurse in uniform.
It is hoped that many staff and patients will contact us with their own memories.
