A nurse at Sorrento placing hot water bottles into a basket used to transfer babies to the hospital

Date:
27 Nov 1941
Location:
Sorrento, Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham, Birmingham
Show all locations
Sorrento Maternity Home, Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham
Sorrento Hospital, Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham
Sorrento Maternity Hospital, Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham
Reference:
MED01/01/2291
Type:
Photograph (Print)
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Description

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: “Premature babies hospital. Picture shows a nurse putting hot-water bottles in the special carrying basket in which babies are fetched.”

From 1911 Sorrento was used as an institution for economically-disadvantaged people, and in 1916 it was bought by Neville Chamberlain and used as a convalescence home for soldiers during the First World War. In 1929 Sorrento was acquired by Birmingham City Council and the house became a maternity home for unmarried women and those on low incomes. Sorrento, which was renamed several times before it become Sorrento Maternity Hospital after it joined the NHS, had a worldwide reputation for its specialist care of premature babies before this treatment became widespread; by the early 1930s it had a pioneering premature baby unit established by Dr Mary Crosse. The unit could care for 10 babies and 6 mothers at once, and more than 3,000 premature babies were treated between 1931 and 1946. To be admitted to the premature baby ward, a doctor would telephone the hospital at the birth and a nurse with a wicker basket – fitted with hot water bottles and blankets – was sent to the patient by taxi. See also MED01/01/2278-2290 and MED01/01/2292-2293. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.

Content

This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series of prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection

Rights

Source: Historic England Archive

People & Organisations

Photographer: Topical Press Agency Limited

Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley

Keywords

Maternity Hospital, People At Work, Women's History, Health And Welfare