Talk:Lewsey

L+D History
http://www.ldh.nhs.uk/aboutlad/abouthistory.htm

It is hard to imagine the 'L&D' of 60 years ago with only 170 beds. It was built, equipped and maintained as a voluntary hospital for the first nine years of its existence, mainly as a result of the generosity of people who lived and worked in the district. In the 1930s, despite the economic depression, which particularly affected Tyneside, Clydeside and South Wales, Luton was a rapidly growing town, due to the availability of employment. There was insufficient space for expansion at the Bute Hospital (1882), situated next to St Mary's Hospital, so it was decided to build another hospital, with scope for extensions. Ten acres of land, situated in the country between Luton and Dunstable, at one time owned by the Omnia Aero Company, were purchased from Electrolux for £3,800.

Tremendous fundraising efforts locally enabled building to begin in 1937. There were to be six wards and an outpatient department, so patients would no longer have to go to London for a second opinion. A casualty unit was essential, as the first one in Luton, opened as late as 1933 at 'The Bute', had proved so valuable, and a twin theatre unit, so that 'never again would there be waiting lists for surgery'. There was also to be a large private wing with a theatre and a nurses' home with a classroom. A local builder, H C Janes, submitted the lowest local tender of £111,231 and was awarded the contract. Most people thought it would be a 'white elephant', although it was to be built next to the Luton Borough Maternity Hospital (1936).

Queen Mary formally opened the new hospital on 14 February 1939. She was accompanied on her tour of inspection by Dr John Bone, a distinguished, retired general practitioner and first President of the hospital, and Miss Edith Redman, Matron, who had held the same position at 'The Bute' since 1928.

Ward 1 was named after Queen Mary; ward 4 after Lady Ludlow from Luton Hoo and ward 2 after a Dunstable grocer, Arthur Frederick Buckingham (1860-1917) who bequeathed £4,000 to found a cottage hospital in Dunstable 'for the poor and needy of Dunstable and district'. Although he had written his will on a brown sugar bag, it was still valid. However, for various reasons, Buckingham's original intention could not be achieved, and the money, which had accumulated to £10,000 through wise investment, made a considerable contribution to the endowment of the new hospital. Probably because of this, and as Dunstable, like Luton, had raised so much money, the hospital was named the Luton and Dunstable Hospital rather than 'The New Bute Hospital'.

In the week following the opening ceremony, local people looked proudly round their new hospital while it was still empty. On 9 March, Mr Ronald Lingard, Hospital Secretary, took charge of the transfer of patients and staff from 'The Bute', but voluntary help was essential to the manoeuvre. It is interesting to note that in 1939, one telephone was thought sufficient and it was considered adequate to use the services of a pharmacist from a local chemist, should there be any prescriptions for patients.

The many changes that have taken place since 1939 have been chronicled elsewhere. It is fair to say, however, that without the foresight of those who founded the L&D, it could not have developed and adapted to meet the needs of society locally 60 years later.

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BetacommandBot (talk) 05:17, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

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