Little Bromwich Hospital

[Rome]

History
The hospital has its origins in an infectious diseases hospital known as City Hospital, Little Bromwich which was completed in June 1895. Intended for activation only at times of medical emergency, it was tasked with responding to a typhoid fever outbreak in 1901. Three additional pavilions and a nurses' home were added in 1904. It treated patients with scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria and tuberculosis during the First World War.

After joining the National Health Service as Little Bromwich Hospital in 1948, it became a general hospital in 1953. It was renamed East Birmingham Hospital in 1963 and saw considerable expansion in the 1970s.The world's last smallpox patient, Janet Parker, was treated at the hospital during the smallpox outbreak in 1978. It became Heartlands Hospital in 1993.

I worked here from 1976,

 

[Rome]

I worked at the hospital from May 1976, until May 2012. When I started it was on two sites, Yardley green site had the chest wards, with theatres and the morgue was here too. They had not long built Arden House, which specialised in elderly care. It had 12 wards, occupational therapy team, a kitchen, and treatment areas. We had a reastaurant and a social club too. The laundry was also on site, and served the hospital, as did the medical supplies sterilised on site and shipped out in big tubs. You had to check the special tape, it changed colour if sterilised correctly, and also had to check if in date and not damaged. We put all used gowns and instruments to one side to be collected The grounds were lovely, with flowers, grass lawns and trees, and we would take patients out and wheel them round the grounds in summer. The summer fetes were held in the grounds too. Special bed making teams worked on both sites, general and infectious diseases, surgical units, and paediatrics were on the main site off bordsley green road. I remember walking up and down Yardley fields road in uniform with cape going from one site to another....

 

[Williamstreeter]

john i would say you were very lucky especially in those days...we are more advanced now thank goodness

lyn

Lyn my Mother RIP would have said I was very lucky indeed

 

[Dolphie]

Does anyone know if any medical records exist of patients who were in the fever hospital around 1928? My late Mom was in a fever hospital for some time & I assume that as she was from Small Heath, she may have been taken into Little Bromwich as she spoke of the ‘ fever hospital at Yardley’??? Thank you

 

[AndyR']

My late Father was in Yardley Green Hospital with Tuberculosis in 1952. He had part of his lung removed under local anaesthetic. He was in for some time recovering. My Mum kept his letters from his time in the hospital including letters from his surgeon (attached). She was only allowed to visit once a week. He lived until he was 86 so I guess those surgeons gave him an extra 57 years.