Heatherwood Hospital 1972

Hospital Bus Stop is Suicide for Visitors

The local bus company should not ask people going to Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, to "commit suicide" said an Easthampstead rural councillor.
Instead, said Coun Raymond Smith. Alder Valley Bus Company should find a way of turning the Reading to Windsor bus so that people can be dropped right outside the hospital and not have to cross busy Kings Ride.
"There are problems now," said Coun Smith. "But which is the greater continuing to risk people's lives or finding a system of turning a bus around?"
The council's General Purposes Committee are joining in the battle with Bracknell Parish Council to stop buses dropping visitors and out-patients on the Windsor route on the Bracknell side of Heatherwood Hospital roundabout,who organise these things to find some scheme for people to be dropped right opposite the hospital and for the bus to turn round."
The bus stop used by the Windsor service, he said, was "the most stupid spot for a hospital bus stop I have ever seen."
Census
He added that Kings Ride was one of the busiest roads in the United Kingdom and he was awaiting the result of a traffic census, carried out at his request by the Road Research Laboratory to back up his claim.
The committee decided to write again and protest to the bus company asking them to find a solution to the problem.
Extract Bracknell Times 06/01/1972

 

Sunningdale WI

The January meeting was presided over by Mrs Gladys Oliver, president and members voted to make a change in the election of future presidents at the next annual general meeting.
Further arrangements were made for the dinner to be held at the Royal Foresters on February 17. It was agreed to hold a stall at Heatherwood Hospital League of Friends' Fete on June 10.

Extract Bracknell Times 20/01/1972

 

Flats for Hospital Staff

Because of the need for more accommodation for married medical staff at Heatherwood Hospital.
The Windsor Group Hospital Management Committee are being recommended to lease two flats offered to them by the Bracknell Development Corporation.
The meeting of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. in London on Monday recommended the Department of Health be asked for approval to lease the two flats in Hambledon Court, Woodmere. Bracknell.
The flats would be on a seven year lease at an annual exclusive rental of £321 each. This would be subject to the District Valuer's report.
The Hospital Management Committee would be responsible for any loss of revenue between tenancies.
The Regional Board's planning formula is to have ten units of married accommodation. The existing married accommodation comprises a new residential block of four units and a house.
Extract Bracknell Times 10/02/1972

 

Back to the Land of his Pioneer Father

Ascot solicitor Mr John Coxwell is returning at the end of next month to his native Rhodesia.
Only days before sailing. he will be giving up his seat as chairman of Sunninghill Parish Council which he has held since 1959.
He first became a parish councillor in 1951.
Already he has resigned his chairmanship of Heatherwood Hospital League of Friends. As an active Ascot Rotarian he helped found the league in 1958.
Dangerous
He helped start Ascot Rotary Club in 1948. Two years later he became the club's third president and followed this by later being secretary for five years. He is still an active Rotarian and intends joining one of the Salisbury clubs. Trustee chairman of Sunninghill Fuel Allotment Trust, he is also peoples' warden at Sunningdale's Holy Trinity Church and a member of the Parochial council.
Mr Coxwell thinks of himself as a Rhodesian although he was actually born in England while his mother was on a short visit from her Salisbury. Southern Rhodesia home. And his father was the 21st white man to arrive in what is now the capital. He is being accompanied to Salisbury by his wife Frances and daughter Jennifer (22).
His younger daughter Roweena. 19. is remaining in England for the present.
Extract Bracknell Times 14/02/1972

 

At Heatherwood

At Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, which serves Bracknell and the surrounding areas, the power cuts are not causing too much of a problem.
"We do have standby generators to keep the essential services going," said a spokesman for the hospital. "and we are hoping to borrow an additional one to keep lights going in the wards...
"But," he added, "as yet, we have not had any power cuts."
Extract Bracknell Times 17/02/1972

Comment:- This was from a larger article about impending power cuts, because of the miners strike.

 

Guest speaker taken ill

Members of the Wokingham branch of the National Council of Women were without a speaker when they held their monthly meeting at Holt School, Wokingham last week.
Miss A. Michelson, the Superintendent Midwife at the maternity unit at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, who was to speak to the branch was taken ill at the last minute.
Extract Bracknell Times 17/02/1972

 

Happy Birthday Bracknell

One other item that appeared on that master plan but never materialised was a hospital.
It was earmarked for next door to Farley Hall, at Farley Moor.
"We thought the New Town should have its own hospital even if it was only a cottage hospital, but the Ministry of Health thought differently."
Instead the Ministry decided to build up Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital, which was then an orthopaedic hospital and is now well on the way to becoming a large general district hospital. But it is five miles from the New Town it serves.
Extract Bracknell Times 24/02/1972

Comment:- This was from a larger article celebrating Bracknell's birthday,this article was part of the story by chief engineer John Kendall.

 

Farewell Dinner

The League of Friends of Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital is to honour its chairman for 13 years. Mr John Coxwell, at a special dinner dance on Friday.
League president Countess Alexander of Tunis will present a gift to Mr Coxwell, a solicitor and Rotarian who is retiring to Rhodesia.

Extract Evening Post 09/03/1972

 

£2 mums

The first dozen babies to be born at Ascot's new maternity wing at Heatherwood Hospital scheduled to open next Wednesday will receive £2 Premium Bonds from the hospital's League of Friends.
Extract Evening Post 09/03/1972

 

New Maternity Unit Opens At Ascot

The first 12 babies to be born in the new Maternity wing at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, which opened yesterday, are to receive a £2 Premium Bond from the hospital's League of Friends.
Heatherwood Hospital's new £750,000 maternity unit accepted its first mothers-to-be yesterday.
But the new admissions will only be special cases under the care of obstetricians. General maternity cases from local general practitioners will not be accepted until May 15. Although the unit, which has 50 maternity and 24 gynaecological beds and 15 special care cots, has been ready for some time, admissions have been held up because of the appointment of a second registrar.
The North West Regional Hospital Board, in line with Government policy, allocated only one registrar to the hospital.
But local GP's refused to send patients there unless two full-time registrars could be in attendance.
Agreed
Now a second registrar has been agreed and the hospital, which has been ready since October, will take its first patients.
The four-storey maternity block, which adjoins the main hospital, is one of the most modern in the country.
It will be under the control of Miss Ada Michaelson, Superintendent Midwife, and will serve a wide area of East Berkshire, including Bracknell New Town and Ascot.
An official opening is planned in April.
Extract Bracknell Times 16/03/1972

 

A Winner

The first baby at the new £750.000 maternity unit at Heatherwood hospital. Ascot.arrived last night to win a Premium Bond
Cheryl, the 5lb daughter of 25-year old Mrs Marilyn Brundish of Queen's Road. Sunninghill receives a £2 bond from Heatherwood's League of Friends
Extract Evening Post 24/03/1972

 

Cheryl in time for a bond

This is Cheryl the baby who arrived in time for a premium bond.
Her full name is Cheryl Brundish. daughter of 25-year-old Mrs Marilyn Brundish of Queens Road, Sunninghill.
Cheryl was the first baby born at the new £750,000 maternity unit at Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot.
And her unknown achievement wins for her, a £2 premium bond from Heatherwood's League of Friends.
Involved
"That will be a lovely start to her money box," Mrs Brundish said. "If Cheryl hadn't been two weeks late. I wouldn't have been able to have had her in this lovely new unit.
"I have been hoping to come in here for her birth because my husband Michael, who is an electrician, was involved in the building's electrical installation."
The maternity unit was officially opened last week. Shortly after Cheryl's arrival.
Mrs Murial Brind of Prince Andrew Way. Ascot. had a daughter, and yesterday a daughter was born to Mrs Pauline Bunker of Mount Pleasant. Brock Hill, Warfield.
They and the next nine babies born in the unit will receive premium bonds from the League of Friends. Mrs Brundish also received a present a 5lb gift-wrapped box of groceries from Clifford's Dairy.
Extract Evening Post 25/03/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of Mrs Brundish and her daughter Cheryl.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Nappy Orders

The new maternity unit at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. will be officially opened on April 14 by Major General Robert Johnstone. former chairman of the Windsor group hospital management committee.
Extract Evening Post 30/03/1972

 

Major Berks hospital boost

Almost £2 million is to be spent on providing more beds and operating theatres at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, which will make it the main district hospital for the Bracknell. Ascot area.
The plan is to build a two-storey ward block there containing 120 beds.
The building will be built behind the present ward block and will cover a slightly larger area than the maternity unit opened recently.
A single storey building. containing four operating theatres, intensive care unit. recovery ward and theatre sterile department is also to go up.
Linked
It will be linked to the ward-block when work starts in two years time. The whole project will cost £1.800.000.
A hospital spokesman said today: "This new ward block will be what we hope is the first quarter of a large comprehensive ward block. Later. we hope to see another block, containing 100 beds, added to it and then in phases five and six the comprehensive block finished off with three storeys of wards.
He could not say how long the work would take to complete.
On Friday the hospital's maternity unit was opened.
Delayed
Sir Maurice Hackett. chairman of the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, who was in the chair, said the opening of the unit had been delayed six months because only one obstetrics registrar had been appointed by the board instead of the two, which local doctors insisted were necessary for the safety of patients having babies in the unit.
Sir Maurice said: "The regional board arranges the starting of hospitals in the region on the basis of what it can do with its resources and what it considers is safe and proper for the patients. Your regional hospital board has more consultants and junior doctors than any other region in the country. Start dates were decided by the regional board, he said.
We provide safe service for the public in this and in every other hospital in the region."
Wrong
But Dr John McKendrick, of Sunningdale. one of the doctors who fought for two obstetric registrars for the new units, said: "Sir Maurice is wrong. The board had no intention of appointing a second obstetrics registrar until we threatened to boycott the unit.
Because they had to find all their obstetric registrars for the new unit from within the board's hospitals, they said they could only find one.
The only reason we are getting a second registrar is because one of the obstetrics consultants to the unit. Mr Stanley Simmons, personally approached St Mary's Hospital in London and persuaded them to second one of their obstetric registrars to Heatherwood."
Opened
The new maternity unit was opened by Maj-Gen R.F.Johnstone, who was chairman of the Windsor Group Hospital Management Committee from 1963-69 Mr Simmons said that the unit had been lucky in getting the staff it needed in view of the national problem in staffing obstetric depart, He said that the maternity unit had opened only because he and other consultants had gone direct to St Mary's Hospital for a second obstetrics registrar and by-passed the Department of Health and Social Security.
Extract Evening Post 17/04/1972

 

Heatherwood's New Maternity Unit

Opening the new £812,000 Maternity Unit at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, on Friday, Major General R.F.Johnstone said: "I think this new unit can bring to this area a service which is increasingly needed."
He said: "This hospital has always provided a very fine standard of service and, just as important, it has won, not only public confidence, but the affection and regard of all people in this district."
General Johnstone, a former chairman of the Windsor Group Hospital Management Committee, continued by saying: "You will seldom find a patient who has been in here who does not come back and say how splendidly he was treated.
Third phase
"In the days when many of the public services, and not least hospitals, are subject to bitter and critical comment, for a hospital to have achieved a reputation like this is to my mind a supreme achievement indeed." General Johnstone said he was sure the hospital would maintain this tradition when the third phase of the redevelopment, planned to start in 1974, costing about £1,800,000 enlarged the hospital further.
Sir Maurice Hackett, chairman of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, described the unit as the first phase in the new hospital.
He said the unit contains 50 obstetric beds,28 gynaecology beds and a special care baby unit with 15 cots for premature babies.
The labour suite, which consists of six single delivery rooms and one special delivery room, has a carpeted waiting room attached for husbands and relatives.
The unit was handed over to Mr J.B.Williamson, chairman of the Windsor Group Hospital Management Committee, who will be running it. After a prayer of dedication from Canon S.J.E.Britnell, the Rural Dean of Sonning, General Johnstone was invited to unveil a commemorative plaque in the entrance hall of the four storey build.
In the unit, beds will be available for local general practitioners who practice obstetrics, to deliver their patients in the unit. In addition it will have its own flying squad, a nurse and doctor team, on call to deal with emergencies in home deliveries.
Modern equipment in the unit includes an Astrup machine which can analyse the blood of newly born babies to detect any irregularities, and a foetal monitoring machine which records the heart beat of the unborn baby.
Staff controversy

The opening ceremony of the new Maternity Unit at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, on Friday, did not pass without a hint of the controversy over staffing which had delayed the opening.
Mr S.C.Simmons, a senior consultant to the new unit, commented that everyone who worked in the hospital appreciated the decision of St Mary's Hospital to appoint one of their registrars to serve the hospital, thereby giving them a full obstetric staff.
The opening of the unit to patients had been delayed because only one registrar was to be appointed.
It was felt there should be a registrar on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. throughout the year with emergencies Regional Hospital Board were going to allocate one registrar to the hospital.
Local practitioners threatened not to use the unit unless two registrars were appointed.
Sir Maurice Hackett replied to Mr Simmons by saying the staffing of the hospital was determined throughout by the Regional Hospital Board and was not affected by pressures from the Press and television personalities.
He said the board kept public safety in mind but they also had to work within their resources.
Extract Bracknell Times 20/04/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of the external view of the Maternity Unit.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Maternity Unit Now Official

General Among the babies
The guests looking round the operating theatre above are Sir Maurice Hackett, Mrs Johnstone, and Major General Johnstone with Sister A Otterson.
On right, General Johnstone presents a bouquet to Mrs Marilyn Brundish and meets Cheryl, the new unit's "first born."
Below right general is in his element as he takes a peep at a new arrival.
Extract Bracknell Times 20/04/1972 from page 4

Comment:- The above 2nd article continued from page 1 was accompanied by a three photo's of those listed in the descriptions.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo's here.

 

Baby food containers are isolated

Two containers have been isolated at a Berkshire hospital after a nationwide search for contaminated baby food.
The withdrawn foods at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, could be part of a batch of sterile food bottles found to have broken vacuum seals.
The warning to hospitals throughout Britain was issued by the Department of Health after the discovery of a faulty bottle at the Hospital,Sutton Coldfield,Warwickshire. Suppliers of the suspected baby food, Cow and Gate, also called upon hospitals to look out for suspect containers.
A spokesman for Heatherwood Hospital said an immediate search of their general stores was launched after the alarm.
They found a couple of boxes from the Cow and Gate firm and these were immediately isolated.
Affected
"These containers have been put aside from the rest of our stock until the manufacturers either take them away or pass them as fit.
"We have no idea if these particular goods are affected but we are not going to use them until we are sure."
He added that none of the suspected bottles of sterile feeding solution. which contain five per cent dextrose. had been used.
The Ministry of Health and Social Security said that although the bottles contained dextrose solution, the substance which was linked with the death of five patients at Devonport Hospital, the contents were given orally. not intravenously.
"It would not necessarily be harmful if taken by mouth and there have been no reports of illness which could be attributed to such a case." spokesman said.
Checking At Newbury hospital spokesman said a search of their baby food stocks had proved negative.
"We have checked the Cow and Gate foods we keep here and we do not have any from the affected batch."
Staff at Basingstoke General Hospital were still checking supplies this morning to see if they had any of the suspected baby food in stock.
A spokesman for Townlands Hospital at Henley said they were unaffected by the baby food scare.
"We don't use the prepared foods." he said. "We may go on to them eventually, but at the moment we prepare our own."
Contaminants A Department of Health inspector will investigate the Cow and Gate baby food factory at Bason Bridge. Somerset, today. The investigation follows a check on all baby foods in hospitals yesterday after one of the company's sterile feeding solutions was found to have lost its sterility.
The Department has stated:There is no evidence that any baby has had non-sterile baby food or that any contaminants would have caused illness."
Some of the solutions contained five per cent dextrose This substance was involved in the recent drip feed case. in which a number of hospital patients died because of contamination of the fluid
The makers said yesterday that production had stopped pending investigation at their plant, and until they and the Ministry were sure of what had happened. they would not start producing again
A spokesman for the Oxford Regional Hospital Board which covers Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, said they were looking into the matter and a statement would be issued later today.
Extract Evening Post 28/04/1972

 

Baby Food Scare

Two suspect containers of baby food were found among a batch delivered to Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, last week. The discovery that the seals on a number of sterile bottles of baby food had been broken followed a national alert last Friday.
The affected bottles were made by Cow and Gate part of the Unigate Group at Bason Bridge, Somerset.
The alert began when seals on two bottles of feeding fluid were found broken in a Sutton Coldfield hospital.
The broken seals resulted in sediment being left in the containers.

Isolated
The fluid is used for feeding premature babies and other infants, but the Department of Health has said that although it contains five per cent dextrose the food linked with the recent cases of drip-feeding the baby food is not fed intravenously.
A spokesman at Heatherwood said: "We have isolated two suspected containers.
The suppliers are coming to collect them.
Cow and Gate have stopped production of the bottled food and have asked all the hospitals they supply to check for broken seals.
Extract Bracknell Times 04/05/1972

 

Heatherwood Wonderfully Happy Place

I Would be very pleased if you would publish this letter as a tribute to the gynaecology department of Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot.
I was a patient there recently for a month. and the care and medical attention I gynaecology department of Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot.
received from the medical staff was unsurpassed. It has a wonderfully happy atmosphere, and nothing was too much trouble for them, day or night.
Savill, Virginia Water.
Extract Bracknell Times 18/05/1972

Comment:- Taken from the letters page.

 

A Few Words of Praise for North Ascot's Miss Tilly

The Ideal Hospital Companion
Last week I wrote of the League of Friends of Church Hill House in Bracknell and all the work they had put in over the years to improve the lot of the Church Hill House patients.
I write now of the League of Friends of Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, it is not to redress the balance, because I have written enough about them in the past, but to single out one of them.
She is Miss Ethel Alice Tilley of Fernbank Road, North Ascot, a sprightly 87 years old, who is credited with recruiting no less than 409 of the League's 650 members.
Most of the old timers in Ascot need no introduction to Miss Tilley, for she taught the infants at Ascot Heath school for 31 years before retiring in 1945.
The Heatherwood League of Friends itself was not launched until 1959, but when it was, Miss Tilley offered to go out and canvass for members.
She had of course the inestimable advantage of knowing more about the early days of some of the members than even they themselves could recall, but whatever authority she wielded she has today 13 collectors and herself still collects personally the annual subscriptions from 70 houses. "I don't remember anyone actually accusing me of getting paid for the League.
but I have been accused of it in the past, when I used to collect for St Dunstans. Both. let me say are purely voluntary charities."
Active
She was an active member of the League's committee up until two years ago, but now feels she is getting too old and to prove it she is planning to start up a drive to find more collectors, whose job it will be to find new members on the new estates springing up in North Ascot.
"Often people I ask to join know what is happening in the League, but few are willing to come along to find out at the Annual General Meeting.
The next meeting is at the Hospital on June 27th. That is when they should come along and voice their opinions and make suggestions for raising money. If they do not come how do we know what they want?"
No one would argue with that. and so I asked her on a final note. something about her days at Ascot Heath School.
"There are some pupils who still stay in my mind and they have turned out very much like they were when they were little."
I did not inquire whether Mr Gordon Butcher present Chairman of the League and one of her former pupils fell into this category.
I simply asked Mr Butcher what he thought of Miss Tilley's efforts on behalf of the League. "Marvellous", he said. And not everyone says that about their teacher.
Extract Bracknell Times 01/06/1972

 

What's On

Tomorrow 2.30pm.
Fete at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. Opened by Diana Dors and husband Alan Lake.
Extract Evening Post 16/06/1972

 

Diana Dashes for new Starring Role

Diana Dors, wearing a pink mini dress with white polka dots, officially opened Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital League of Friends' fete at the hospital grounds on Saturday.
She had made a dash by car from Pinewood Studios, where she had spent the morning filming
Miss Dors persuaded her husband Alan Lake to say a few words and her young son Jason to say hello.
Then the trio toured the stalls before Miss Dors and Mr Lake settled down to a session of selling their autographs in aid of the league funds.
Extract Evening Post 19/06/1972

 

From Diana With Love

D-I-A-N-A D-o-rs one of the most well-known autographs from the acting world wound up on a leg plaster at the Heatherwood Hospital fete.
And the lucky lady was Mrs Sheila Brimacombe, of Plymouth, whose broken leg sported the famous name after Miss Dors stopped for a chat.
Looking on is Miss Dors' husband Mr Alan Lake.
Extract Evening Post 20/06/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of the Diana signing the plaster.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

La Dors helps raise £400 at Fete

By Lesley Heuer
Opening Saturday's fete at Heatherwood Hospital, actress Diana Dors urges the crowd to "support this very worthy cause."
The sunshine brought out the patients and visitors for Saturday's fete at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, which raised over £400. The patients, some in dressing gowns, some in wheelchairs with limbs in plaster, mingled with visitors who had come along to the hospital for the fete organised by the League of Friends. The fete was opened by actress Diana Dors and her actor husband Alan Lake. Wearing a matching pink dress and coat. Miss Dors explained she had been filming since early that morning and had been afraid she would not be able to get to Ascot.
Worthy
She urged people to spend their money.
"It is a very worthy cause. I have not yet had to spend any time in Heatherwood Hospital, but hospitals and hospital staff are very over worked and underrated."
Jokingly, she apologised for the fact that her husband chose to break his back in a riding accident on the wrong side of Windsor Great Park so he did not got to Heatherwood.
And Mr Lake promised next time he broke his back he would try and do it nearby.
The couple introduced their young son, Jason. They also introduced a friend they had brought along with them, Canadian country and western singer Tim Buck.
They had all been welcomed by Mr Gordon Butcher. chairman of the League of Friends.
Among the many stalls and sideshows were some run by local organisations, including two Women's Institutes and members of the golf club.
Members of the public were also able to get an insight of the work work carried out at Heatherwood.
Nursing staff took visitors on conducted tours of the hospital, which included a visit to an orthopaedic ward. the chapel and the new day room, gifts from the League of Friends.
The X-ray department. physiotherapy, out-patients. and a maternity ward were also visited.
Actor Alan Lake autographs the plaster cast of a patient at Heatherwood Hospital on Saturday. The patient, Mrs Sheila Brimacombé, comes from Plymouth, but has been at Heatherwood since breaking her leg in a car accident.
Roll up! Roll up! Members of staff try their luck on the wheel of fortune at Saturday's fete at Heatherwood Hospital.
Some of the nurses, patients and visitors at Heatherwood Hospital's League of Friends fete on Saturday watch as actress Diana Dors performs the opening ceremony.
Extract Bracknell Times 22/06/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by photo's of the Diana opening the fete along with a photo of the crowds and Husband Alan signing the plaster.
Another photo showed staff trying their luck at one of the league's games.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo's here.

 

Bracknell Residents Slated for Apathy

Bracknell residents were attacked last night for not supporting the League of Friends at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
Mr Gordon Butcher, chairman of the League of Friends, told the annual meeting: "At least 50 per cent of the patients here come from Bracknell yet practically all the support and membership of the league comes from the Ascot area.
"The new towners come to the hospital and take all the things the hospital has to offer including many of the services and comforts supplied by the league and then go away without doing anything in return."
He said Bracknell residents were apathetic and he thought this was a result of the famous New Town Blues which bred an indifference to anything and everyone.
Factories in the new town also came under attack.
If any of the social clubs attached to the factories raised money for the hospital, said Mr Butcher. they would only give it to the hospital if their name was identified with the gift.
It would be much better if they worked with the league towards larger, more ambitious projects, he said.
Extract Evening Post 28/06/1972

 

Not all teenagers are bad,Rector

Not all teenagers are bad, though they only seem to get mention on television and in the Press when they "go on the rampage", says the Rector of Ascot, the Rev.Frederick Lancaster.
"We are apt to forget there are tens thousands of them up and down the country involved in community work without thought of reward," said Mr Lancaster. of He gives an example in his own church.
He called for volunteers to come forward to push patients in wheelchairs to services he conducts at Heatherwood Hospital Chapel, Ascot, on Saturday mornings.
"Four teenagers immediately volunteered oddly enough all boys," he said.
He thought that when the "newness had worn off" the volunteers might drop out.
But "those same four helpers have been at the hospital every Saturday morning since," he added.
Extract Bracknell Times 06/07/1972

 

Rural Birth Rate Booming

The birth rate is booming in the Easthampstead Rural District, according to a report by the Medical Officer of Health.
A total of 1,203 babies were born in the district in 1971 nearly 100 more than the previous year.
And although the rate per thousand population is still lower than the national average at 15.1 it is showing a steady rise from the all time low of 1969 which was 13.9. Nearly all last year's bouncing babies were born in hospital, says medical officer Mr David Pickup in his annual report.
Now that the maternity unit" at Heatherwood Hospital is open the figure for home births is likely to fall even lower than fast year's 5.5 per cent.
Extract Bracknell Times 27/07/1972

 

Enjoying Fresh Air

Patients at Heatherwood Hospital will now be able to sit outside on the lawns and enjoy thanks to the the sunshine
Ascot WRVS which has presented the hospital with four seats, the first it has had.
The gift is the latest in a long line of equipment presented to the hospital by the organisation which also runs two canteens at Heatherwood.
Extract Bracknell Times 03/08/1972

 

Nurses win awards

Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, is having more and more traffic accidents cases taken to it than ever before, it was revealed last Wednesday by the Matron, Miss E.Wadmore, during the fifth annual nurses prize-giving.
"Our volume of work is increasing steadily," she said. "We are having more and more road traffic accidents. People are using the roads round here as the short-cut from the M4 to the M3, and at times we are the only hospital between Basingstoke open and Slough."
Miss Wadmore said that in 1971 the accident and emergency department- "casualty" department dealt with 17,600 patients.
The outpatients department dealt with a total of 32,933 people, and the X-Ray department dealt with more than 16,000 patients.
More than 40,000 people had been dealt with by the physiotherapy department.
"We are not a sleepy little hospital," she declared.
Referring to the new maternity ward which was opened this year, Miss Wadmore said that 246 babies had been born there.
Prizes were presented by Miss Christine Thompson, Matron-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.
She told the student nurses, who were at the end of their training: "I know how hard you have had to work to get through the courses. But you need have no qualms about your future."
She wished them every success and happiness for the future.
Prizes were presented to Susan Jones, Vivian Ross,Alma Keating, Deborah Steele, Mrs S.L.Wickens, Eileen Hogan, Julia Bright, Patricia Rapp, Jean Waterhouse, and Christine Walker.
Those who received the hospital badge and certificate on the completion of their training were:
S. DePass, E. Godoy, E. P.Hogan, D. S. Jones, N. P.Keane, A. M. Keating, M. L.Lee, J. C.Lowe, C. S.Moore, V. A.Munro, S. M.O'Brien, V. A. Ross, S. C.Rowbotham, D. A.Steele, Mrs S.Stephenson. V. Y.Ward, Waterhouse, S. M. Watts, E. Wong and Mrs S. L.Wickens. Mrs J.I.Bissett, R. Bowman, M. Clift, V. B.
Nurse A. M.Keating of Wokingham is presented with the Matron's Prize for the best practical pupil nurse. Making the presentation is Miss C. Thompson, Matron-In-Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.
Extract Bracknell Times 21/09/1972

 

Now he puts his feet up

For 46 years Mr William Clark has been making life a little more comfortable for patients of Heatherwood Hospital.
He is the appliance maker the man who provides aids like splints, crutches and plaster casts.
Now, at 65, he is retiring to make way for a younger man-if one can be found. His trade is a specialist one and today's appliance-maker is a rare breed.
So it was with heavy heart that the hospital staff said goodbye to him on Friday.
He would have been welcome to work on, but his health has not been perfect over the last couple of years and he wanted to take the chance of a rest and to put his feet up.
For that the hospital staff thoughtfully provided him with two armchairs as a retirement present.
He and his wife, Ada, will be able to relax at their home at 94 Kennel Ride. Ascot, and reflect on the days since Mr Clark began work when he was 14. But he is unlikely to stay idle for long. Carpentry is a hobby as well as work for him and he has three aviaries of budgerigars to look after. He is also a keen gardener.
The hospital secretary, Mr D. Fairman, made the presentation, on behalf of the staff, to Mr Clark, who was also given a long service award by the Windsor Group Hospital Management Committee.
Extract Bracknell Times 05/10/1972

 

Chilly Debate At Bus Stop

A Group of Bracknell councillors are tonight meeting at an Ascot bus stop.
They will stand in the cold while they debate the problem of getting patients and visitors safely and comfortably by bus to Heatherwood Hospital.
The meeting has been called by Bracknell Parish Council's road safety committee in protest at a bus company's decision to move the stop outside the hospital... Police, road safety officials.
Alder Valley Bus Company representatives, county councillors and members of neighbouring Sunninghill Parish Council have also been invited to the on-site meeting. The road safety committee has received complaints from people visiting the hospital since the alterations.
Weather
Cause of the complaints was a decision to change the bus route to avoid buses having to make a U-turn in the High Street.
It meant that passengers from the Bracknell direction who were originally dropped outside the hospital are now set down on the other side of a main road roundabout.
They now have to cross in the face of two streams of traffic using the busy London Road to get to the hospital.
The new bust stop is also open to the weather whereas the old one has a shelter.
Tonight's meeting is aimed at trying to reach satisfactory solution to problems of both the bus company and the passengers.
Extract Evening Post 16/10/1972

 

Danger Bus Stop At Roundabout,May Be Shifted

Plans are afoot to use the drive of Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, as a turning point for a bus service.
This was revealed on Monday night at a site meeting called by the Bracknell Road Safety Committee to discuss the possibility of moving the bus-stop on the roundabout. west of Heatherwood Hospital.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of Alder Valley Services, the Bracknell Road Safety Officer and the Ascot police.
The Road Safety Committee are complaining about both. the position of the stop and its construction.
They claim that passengers travelling west to Bracknell on the half-hourly service take their lives into their own hands when they cross the streams of traffic which flow continually around the round- about in order to reach the stop. They are also concerned that the stop is without a bus shelter and a lay-by. This, they argue, will particularly affect people in the winter when the weather is bad.
Clerk to Bracknell Parish Council Mr Sam Ogden said that the committee had first written to Alder Valley about the problem six months ago. At the September meeting the Road Safety Committee called for the stop to be re-sited.
Accepted
"We are particularly concerned about Bracknell people visiting Heatherwood Hospital," said Councillor Francis Dixon, chairman of the Bracknell Road Safety Committee. "When you visit the hospital you are very often not at your best."
But now both sides have agreed upon a possible solution to the problem turn the bus round using the drive of the hospital so it can pick up passengers from the stop immediately outside the hospital.
"I am sure this proposal will be backed up by the committee, most of whom are here tonight." said Coun Dixon. The proposal will then be put forward to the hospital authorities for their approval.
Mr Ken Rodgerson, representing Alder Valley Services at the meeting, said: "When we introduced this service we met the hospital secretary, the road safety officer and the police.
"This was accepted by everybody as a good facility. though not ideal.
"We have had no complaints from the public about the stop." added Mr Rodgerson. "As for disabled people they can board outside the hospital.
"This service is giving people a better facility than they have ever had." said Mr Rodgerson.turn the bus round using the drive of the hospital so it can
Extract Bracknell Times 19/10/1972

 

Films

Scenes from "Carry on Matron" showing at Wokingham and Bracknell next week were shot at Heatherwood Hospital.
Our picture of Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams was taken when we went on location with them down Ascot way.
Almost as perennial as weeds are the "Carry On" films and the latest "Carry On Matron" hits Wokingham and Bracknell this week.
If the hospital where all the hi-jinks takes place looks familiar it is not surprising for much of the shooting was at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital.
Extract Bracknell Times 19/10/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of those listed in the descriptions.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Maternity Car Park to be Bus Terminus?

The Alder Valley Bus Company is asking Heatherwood Hospital if buses can use the maternity wing car park as a turning point instead of the nearby roundabout
This is the result of a site meeting between Bracknell Parish Council and a representative of the bus company called because some Bracknell parishioners complained about the change in terminus which meant having to cross busy road.
The meeting aroused the anger of Sunninghill Parish Council. which accused the Bracknell council of being "arrogant" in arranging the meeting without consulting Sunninghill
Said Councillor Dixon "I can only say I am sorry to Sunninghill council if they are upset".
"We called the meetings because we had complaints from our parishioners
If adopted the re-routing would mean that people travelling to and from the hospital would avoid crossing any roads.We think this would be an ideal solution." said Dixon.
Extract Evening Post 21/10/1972

 

Refreshment Time

Tuesdays.Thursdays and Fridays.
The cuppa is for visitors to Heatherwood Hospital. The canteen. in the casualty reception department. which is open during the week will now open during visiting hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The money will go to providing comforts for patients and staff.
Extract Bracknell Times 16/11/1972

 

This Is Your Life

For 30 years Mr Albert George Newton ran the Scout movement for Handicapped Scouts at Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, and he has been district commissioner Bracknell since 1961. When he retires Newton will accept a lay appointment as district Information officer with the Scout movement.
The final and probably most treasured gift presented to him was a large book, signed by every Cub Scout and Venture Scout in the district, totalling more than 1,000 names.
Extract Evening Post 20/11/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of Mr Newton and local scouts.
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Acclaim for a Truly Great Scout

Mr Dave Christian, who was a patrol leader with the Heatherwood Hospital troop in 1940-41 recounted the time when the troop had their own "Gang Show." which used to tour the wards entertaining the other patients.
Extract Bracknell Times 23/11/1972

Comment:- A small extract from a much larger article.
The above article was accompanied by a three photo's of Mr Newton receiving his retirement gifts and the huge crowd at Brackenhale school and local scouts.
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Money for a New Project

Heatherwood Hospital League of Friends is looking for £2.000 to build a new day room for two of its wards.
Some months ago the League supplied £800 to provide another day room. and the new project is for a bigger. better-equipped building which will cater for long-term patients at the hospital.
So far the League has raised about £800 and it hopes for another boost from its first-ever Christmas bazaar to be held on Saturday.
Extract Bracknell Times 30/11/1972

 

Volunteers Dress 150 Naked Ladies

There were plenty of volunteers to dress 150 pretty ladies at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory at Crowthorne.
But these ladies were dolls, all destined as Christmas presents for children in homes and hospitals all over the county, and in particular orphans of former staff. Mr Alec Silverleaf, director of the laboratory, yesterday presented Miss C. H. Henry, chief welfare officer at the Department of the environment, with the dolls, a cheque for £80, and nearly 100 toys and books.
The toys were made by staff at the laboratory. They have helped in previous years with the Department of the Environment's Christmas Appeal.
Local children to benefit will be those at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, Hart's Leap Cheshire Home. Sandhurst. and Berkshire County Council In-Care Homes at Bracknell.
Extract Evening Post 30/11/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of the toys and dolls being received by Miss Constance Henry.
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A Doll for Christmas

Christmas will be a little bit happier for a lot of children this year. thanks to the efforts of the staff at the Road Research Laboratory at Crowthorne.
For the seventh successive year nearly 200 of them volunteered to dress dolls and make toys for the Department of the Environment's Christmas Appeal and on.
Wednesday, last week, Mr Alec Silverleaf, director of the laboratory, handed over 150 dressed dolls, nearly 100 toys and books and a cheque for £80 to Miss. Constance Henry, Chief Welfare Officer of the Department.
The toys and money go to children in homes and hospitals all over the country, particularly to orphans of former Department staff.
Among them will be those at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. Hart's Leap Cheshire Home, Sandhurst, and the Berkshire County Council in-care homes, Bracknell.
The toys are now on display in London together with some from other department centres.
Extract Bracknell Times 07/12/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of the toys and dolls being received by Miss Constance Henry.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Thanks to The Hospitals

Recently I had the misfortune to have to be admitted to hospital for an emergency operation. I guess Lady Luck was with me because I as admitted to Ward 8 at Heatherwood Hospital.
I can never put into words the panic I felt from the time I was advised I would have to go to hospital. This state of mind lasted until within a few minutes of walking into the Sisters Room. From that moment and all the time I was in hospital I felt so safe and secure. Everyone I met on the staff gave a feeling that they really cared about you and the way you felt.
I have been a private patient abroad and I thought the attention was great but the staff in Ward 8 are beyond words they made my stay a real pleasure
I will never be able to put into words the thanks I feel towards each one I am sure the Matron of Heatherwood must be one of the proudest women on earth in having such great staff.
I hope you can find a small space for all me to wish all the staff on Ward 8 a wonderful Christmas and a very happy 1973 I am sure! can say this for all the other patients who have stayed in this ward.
Extract Evening Post 22/12/1972

 

A Happy Christmas & That Was Doctors Orders

by Frank Emery
For most people, Christmas is a time for relaxing and forgetting about the pressures of work but for the staff of Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, the reverse is nearer the truth. Over the festive season life has been one big rush for the staff whose job it is to see that the patients have as cheerful a Christmas possible.
On duty over the holiday period at the hospital were doctors. nurses. porters. switchboard operators.catering staff. stokers and maintenance staff.
However, although the work of the hospital proceeded virtually as normal. efforts were made to see that staff had as much time at home as possible. "Only the really ill patients have remained here over Christmas." said Mr Peter Smith. deputy hospital secretary. "We have tried to send home as many of them as possible.
"This means that there have been a reduced number of patients to be catered for and this has relieved pressure on the staff a little." added Mr Smith. "Everyone has tried to do their utmost to make sure that most people have had at least some time off."
This was done by the use of rotas but inevitably. pointed out Mr Smith. there has been a lot of inconvenience.
And not only to doctors and nurses but also to people such as stokers and switchboard operators whom people tend to forget but who are equally vital to the running of the hospital.
"If the stokers were not on duty the whole hospital would come to an immediate halt." said Mr Smith. As Mrs M.Laurie, the assistant matron. told me: "Everything is done to make patients who are here as cheerful as possible and the staff have to take a back seat as a result."
Accordingly. the staff held their official Christmas lunch last Thursday while the patients had their meal on Christmas day itself. For the nurses on duty on Christmas day a special buffet lunch was laid on while sisters and doctors also made the best of the situation with a makeshift meal.
But Christmas at Heatherwood Hospital is mainly for the patients. Festivities. this year. have mainly been in the form of parties and carol services.
Service
Last Wednesday. a group of young carol singers from All Saints' Church. Ascot. visited the hospital and toured the eight wards, and on Sunday a special carol service was held. Highlight for the younger patients was undoubtedly the Christmas party held in the children's ward yesterday afternoon. Out-patients were also invited to join in the fun which included games, presents and. of course. a visit from Father Christmas.
About a dozen Christmas trees were dotted round the building. one in each of the eight wards. and nurses were kept busy putting up decorations. "Everything was done to give the place a real Christmassy feeling. both inside and outside." said Mr Smith. Each year the hospital is given a sum of money, usually about £200. to spend. by the Hospital Association.
Divided
This money is divided up between the wards. but what the money itself is used for is left to the discretion of the ward sister.
Heatherwood also gets a donation from the League of Friends, and this money is used to make Christmas as happy a time as possible for the patients.
Extract Bracknell Times 28/12/1972

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by three photos, one showed a small patient in bed with a crowd around,the second carried picture of the carols being sung on the wards and finally a Nurse Wendy Retter decorating the windows.
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