Lydney Cottage Hospital, nowadays and during WW1 (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 19:52 (4044 days ago) @ slowhands

Lydney Hospital was still a great place to stay in the early 1980s, according to my sister in Coleford so near Bream. After her first child was born in '81, at Gloster, they were moved to Lydney for 4-5 days to "recuperate". Apparently the care was memorable with excellent "home-cooked" meals in rooms akin to a good guesthouse. My younger sister was not impressed a few years later when, after having her first, they were sent home from Gloster the day after baby was born. Like the Dilke, Lydney is still offering Outpatient care, x-rays etc, see:
http://www.friendsoflydneyhospital.org.uk/old-pictures.html

Sadly neither of these Forest hospitals offer midwifery and haven't for many years, hence the number of "true Foresters" being born have reduced significantly since the mid 70s or so(??) as, except for home-births, expectant Forest mothers go to Gloucester Royal opened in 1975 to replace the earlier Hospitals mentioned by Slowhands.

The ever-excellent Forest Prints site has a few old photos of Lydney and Dilke Hospitals.
http://www.forestprints.co.uk/lydney_area.htm
http://www.forestprints.co.uk/cinderford.htm

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As an aside, during WW1 Lydney Cottage Hospital was part of the Lydney V.A (Voluntary Aid) Hospital, setup to care for the increasing numbers of war casualties. http://www.angelfire.com/az/garethknight/redcross/lydney.html
About thirty such hospitals were setup in Gloucestershire alone, most across the Severn but there was another at St Briavels. This interesting site contains full details and the following Staff List for St Briavels.
http://www.angelfire.com/az/garethknight/redcross/stbriavels.html

St Briavels VA Hospital Staff in 1915:
Commandant: Mrs Palin
Medical Officer: Dr R. Moyle
Lady Superintendent: Sister Simms
Quartermaster: Miss Edith Hollis
General Duty : Miss E. M. Griffiths, Miss M. Davis, Miss Ashley-Ewer, Mrs A. Vick, Miss M. Whittington, Mrs S. A. Coates, Miss L. Whittington, Mrs E. Moyle, Mrs Averill, Mrs C. Thompson
Probationers and helpers: Miss G. Livesey, Hon. E. Lopes
Cooks: Miss R. Radclyffe, Miss C. Matthews