The original caption may contain language which is historic and which may no longer be considered appropriate. It has been retained in the record in the interest of historical accuracy.
The caption on the reverse of the photograph reads: “Queen Mary to open new seamen’s hospital. The new Albert Dock Hospital, London, E., a branch of The Seaman’s Hospital Society, is to be opened on Oct. 21st by H.M. Queen Mary, Patroness of the Society. The old hospital was condemned as unfit owing to soil subsidence in 1935 and construction of the new building began early in 1937. In 1937, despite the difficulties of the old building, the old Albert Dock Hospital treated 749 in-patients and 5,695 out-patients. In proportion, there are far more out-patients treated at the Albert Dock Hospital than at any other of the hospitals of the Seamen’s Hospital Society. This is due in a large measure to the accidents which occur in the loading and unloading of ships and, of course, to sailors while they are at sea. As a result, special attention is being paid to the plans for a model Fracture Clinic and Re-habilitation Centre which will be the first complete unit of its kind in the country. The new Albert Dock Hospital has 55 beds, compared with 33 at the old building, and has cost approximately £85,000, of which £10,000 is still urgently needed. Photo shows:- The last patient leaving the old Albert Dock Hospital for the new this morning.”
The hospital was opened in 1890 as a branch of the Dreadnought Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich. The hospital had two general wards each with 5 beds, an isolation ward with 2 beds, and 2 single rooms, along with an out-patient department, dispensary, kitchen, post-mortem room and an ambulance house. See also MED01/01/0008-0010. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.
This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series of prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Topical Press Agency Limited
Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley
Seamens Hospital, Health And Welfare, People At Work
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