The Emergency Hospital Ponteland?

[Gen List Lass]

I have found someone dying at this hospital in Ponteland in 1948.

I wondered why she died there when her address was formerly Jesmond Newcastle.

Anyone have info on what type of a hospital this was?


Gen in NBL England

[cati]

It seems to have become an emergency services hospital in WWII:  there's a bit about it here:

http://newcastlephotos.blogspot.co.uk/2008/05/st-marys-asylum-stannington.html

and here:

http://www.onemileahead.co.uk/main.php?g2_itemId=1824

from which you will see that it was also also known as St Mary's Asylum or Gateshead Borough Asylum, although the use of part as an emergency hospital seems to have been quite separate from its function as an asylum.

Cati

edited to remove greengrocer's apostrophe...

[Craclyn]

Ponteland Local History Society have some hospital archives including admission books.

[Helen K]

I worked at Ponteland Hospital in the late 70's, but have no recollection of it's previous history.

I can tell you that at that time it was a Geriatric Hospital, an outreach facility of Newcastle General Hospital from where all of our patients were admitted. There were very limited Nursing or Care Homes at that time and Medical and Surgical beds in General Hospitals were occupied by the Elderly who, for one reason or another, could not return home. Our patients included those who experienced general frailty, Strokes and Dementia.

The Hospital site was quite small. A female side of 38 patients on two floors and a male side about the same. A two office admin block, kitchen and a small staff area. Although under the umbrella of the NHS, Ponteland was run more like a home. Patients were looked after by local GP's, home cooked food was served hot and lots of singing and daft carry on was the order of the day. Happy days.

 

[Gen List Lass]

I don't think St Mary's Stannington is the same hospital as the Emergency Hospital in Ponteland.

As the lady concerned was 84 when she died and was a widow, maybe she was a geriatric patient.

Thanks for the information.

Gen in NBL England

[jmichaeltaylor]

St Mary's Stannington is not the same hospital as Ponteland hospital. There is a short history of Ponteland Hospital in "Pont Island News 2010" - the publication of Ponteland Local History Society - I'll post someting on the society blog.

The hospital started of as "The Work House" and as previous respondants have indicated it eventually became an "outpost" of Newcastle General hospital for elderly patients. 

[jmichaeltaylor]

Ponteland Local History Society have some hospital archives including admission books.

The Archive is located at Ponteland Library and available for inspection 2pm to 5pm the first Friday in the month