OLD ST. HELENS HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27050, 27 May 1953, Page 2

OLD ST. HELENS HOSPITAL

CONTRAST WITH NEW BUILDING ’

At the annual meeting of the Friends of St. Helens yesterday, Miss Mabel Howard, M.P., contrasted the fine new St. Helens Hospital with ’’the old dump” that had formerly been the hospital. She said she was disappointed to learn that the old building was to be used as a home for the aged. "I must say a word for ‘the old dump,’ ” said I.lrs L. C. L. Averill. She was an active member of the Friends of St. Helens, and distributed library books among the patients. She found as she talked with the patients that all agreed that the new Sf. Helens was beautiful, but some added that they had, had very happy times in the old St. Helens, where the matron and nurses had been so kind to them and where there was such a home-like atmosphere. Then Miss E. Sparkes, who was formerly matron at the old St. Helens Hospital, rose in its defence. She said she agreed with Miss Howard that the building, which had forme.’)’’ been a hotel, was not suitable for a hospital, and that it had always been too crowded. There had not been sufficient room for the nurses, for the mothers and the babies, and even for the linen cupboards. It had been a difficult problem to equip it properly for a hospital. But she shought that, for a limited number of elderly persons, it could be made into a comfortable home.

“I was very happy there for 13 years,” said Miss Sparkes, “although I did sleep in the bar.” Members recalled that 13 years ago —in 1940—a gathering had been held to celebrate the birth of the ten thousandth baby born at the old St. Helens, and that several hundred others were born there before the hdspital was closed.