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: “Keeping house for 1,200 hospital residents, how a women feeds a London hospital. Scene in the kitchens of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital (see attached story). Photo shows:- A line of steam boilers and steam cabinets.”
The need for dietetics was recognised in the UK in the 1920s. Hospital dieticians were required to possess a wide range of competencies, including cookery skills, knowledge of purchasing, an awareness of patient care, and a scientific understanding of metabolism and digestion. There was some controversy regarding the need for dieticians to also be trained in nursing. Whilst it was expected that dieticians would prepare prescribed diets for specific illnesses, this was not the limit of a dietician’s work: it was recognised that convalescent patients and staff should also have access to suitable diets. However, this was expensive and such recommendations were often not observed; often a dietician remained responsible only for special diets and inadequate hospital diets for nurses and other patients continued into the 1940s. See also MED01/01/0390-0394 and MED01/01/0396-0400, and MED01/02/0014. 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
Hospital, Kitchen, People At Work, Women's History, Food And Drink
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