Workhouse Nursing: The Story of a Successful Experiment

Workhouse Nursing: The Story of a Successful Experiment
Author: Florence Nightingale
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Total Pages: 49
Release: 2020-09-28
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1465609407

The following pages contain a brief account of the experiment successfully tried by the Select Vestry of Liverpool (the guardians of the poor)—the introduction of trained Nurses into the male wards of the Workhouse Infirmary. That experiment having resulted so successfully as to induce the Vestry to extend the system to the remainder of the infirmary, it may be interesting to those who are concerned in the management of workhouses elsewhere to learn something of its history and progress. It is the writer’s object to explain— 1. The grounds on which the Vestry were led to undertake the experiment, as stated in the preliminary report of Mr. Carr, the governor, and that of the sub-committee of the Vestry appointed to consider the proposed scheme; and the replies received to inquiries addressed by them to institutions and persons connected with the training and employment of skilled nurses in London and Liverpool, with letters on the subject from Miss Nightingale and Sir John McNeill. 2. The results of the experiment, so far as hitherto ascertained. The Liverpool Vestry had previously made considerable efforts to improve the workhouse infirmaries. The medical men had been encouraged to make requisition for every material appliance that could facilitate the cure of the sick; and paid female officers were appointed at the rate of one to each 150 or 200 beds, to superintend the giving of medicines and stimulants, and so forth: but of course so small a number, even had they been trained nurses, could do no real nursing, and could exercise little supervision over the twenty drunken or unreliabl pauper nurses who were under the nominal direction of each paid officer. An appeal was made to the Vestry to consummate the good work they had thus partially commenced, and it was urged that Liverpool should assume the lead in the task of workhouse reform.

Sickness in the Workhouse

Sickness in the Workhouse
Author: Alistair Ritch
Publisher:
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2019
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1580469752

Sickness in the Workhouse illuminates the role of workhouse medicine in caring for England's poor, bringing sick paupers from the margins of society and placing them centre stage.

Shadows of the Workhouse

Shadows of the Workhouse
Author: Jennifer Worth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Midwives
ISBN: 9781780225111

In the 1950s Jennifer Worth was a district midwife in the Docklands of East London where the aftermath of the war meant many lived in shocking conditions. She worked with the Nursing Sisters of St John the Divine, nurses and midwives whose vocation was to work amongst the poorest of the poor. Despite the official closure of the workhouses in 1930, there was nowhere else for many inmates to go so they changed their names and carried on much as before. In 'Shadows of the Workhouse', Jennifer tells the stories of the men and women she met who began their lives in the workhouse.

The Workhouse

The Workhouse
Author: Simon Fowler
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2014-09-11
Genre: History
ISBN: 1783831510

The stories of those who lived in the shadow of the workhouse'??During the nineteenth century the workhouse cast a shadow over the lives of the poor. The destitute and the desperate sought refuge within its forbidding walls. And it was an ever-present threat if poor families failed to look after themselves properly. As a result a grim mythology has grown up about the horrors of the 'house' and the mistreatment meted out to the innocent pauper. ??In this fully-updated and revised edition of his bestselling book, Simon Fowler takes a fresh look at the workhouse and the people who sought help from it. He looks at how the system of the Poor Law _ of which the workhouse was a key part _ was organised and the men and women who ran the workhouses or were employed to care for the inmates.??But above all this is the moving story of the tens of thousands of children, men, women and the elderly who were forced to endure grim conditions to survive in an unfeeling world.??'A poignant account ... draws powerfully on letters from The National Archives ... [Simon Fowler] brings out the horror, but it is fair-minded to those struggling to be humane within an inhumane system,' The Independent??'A good introduction,' The Guardian.??The history of workhouses and poverty ('misery history') has recently been prominently covered on TV shows like WDYTYA? and ITV's Secrets from the Workhouse, and referenced in historical dramas like The Village and Ripper Street.

Workhouse Nursing

Workhouse Nursing
Author: William Rathbone
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2018-05-15
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 3732672506

Reproduction of the original: Workhouse Nursing by William Rathbone

Workhouse Nursing

Workhouse Nursing
Author: Florence Nightingale
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 45
Release: 2023-10-26
Genre: Medical
ISBN:

At the heart of 'Workhouse Nursing' lies a profound exploration of the intersection between medical care, societal attitudes towards poverty, and the pioneering efforts to reform healthcare practices within the workhouses of the 19th century. This anthology brings together seminal texts that showcase a range of literary styles, from firsthand accounts to impassioned arguments for reform, encapsulating the varied responses to the healthcare crises of the era. The collection stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of these issues, highlighting both the individual and collective endeavors to bring dignity and compassion to the fore of workhouse healthcare. The contributions of Florence Nightingale and William Rathbone are pivotal, not only in their individual capacities as reformers but also as representatives of broader cultural and humanitarian movements. Nightingales legacy as the mother of modern nursing and Rathbones philanthropic endeavors provide a compelling backdrop to the anthology, situating it within the larger currents of social reform and the evolution of nursing as a profession. This collection is thus enriched by the authors' diverse yet complementary perspectives, offering an insightful historical record of the challenges and triumphs faced in the field of nursing and healthcare. 'Workhouse Nursing' is an essential read for those interested in the history of social reform, nursing, and the intersection of healthcare and societal development. By delving into this collection, readers are offered a unique chance to explore the depth and breadth of early efforts to improve the conditions of the less fortunate, through a lens that combines historical detail with humanitarian passion. It encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complexities involved in healthcare reform, and the role of empathy and dedication in driving change.

The Workhouse System 1834-1929

The Workhouse System 1834-1929
Author: M. A. Crowther
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2016-06-17
Genre: History
ISBN: 1317236815

First published in 1981. Professor Crowther traces the history of the workhouse system from the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 to the Local Government Act of 1929. At their outset the large residential institutions were seen by the Poor Law Commissioners as a cure for nearly all social ills. In fact these formidable, impersonal, prison-like buildings – housing all paupers under one roof – became institutionalised: places where routine came to be an end in itself. In the early twentieth century some of the workhouses became hospitals or homes for the old or handicapped but many continued to form a residual service for those who needed long-term care. Crowther pays attention not only to the administrators but also to the inmates and their daily life. She illustrates that the workhouse system was not simply a nineteenth-century phenomenon but a forerunner of many of today’s social institutions.

The Workhouse Encyclopedia

The Workhouse Encyclopedia
Author: Peter Higginbotham
Publisher: The History Press
Total Pages: 517
Release: 2012-03-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0752477196

This fascinating, fully illustrated volume is the definitive guide to every aspect of the workhouse and of the poor relief system in which it played a pivotal part. Compiled by Peter Higginbotham, one of Britain's best-known experts on the subject, this A-Z cornucopia covers everything from the 1725 publication An Account of Several Work-houses to the South African Zulu admitted to Fulham Road Workhouse in 1880. With hundreds of fascinating anecdotes, plus priceless information for researchers including workhouse locations throughout the British Isles, useful websites and archive repository details, maps, plans, original workhouse publications and an extensive bibliography, it will delight family historians and general readers alike. Where was my local workhouse? What records did they keep? What is gruel and is it really what inmates lived on? How did you get out of a workhouse? What famous people were once workhouse inmates? Are there any workhouse buildings I can visit? If these are the kinds of questions you've ever wanted to know the answer to, then this is the book for you.

Medicine and the Workhouse

Medicine and the Workhouse
Author: Jonathan Reinarz
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2013
Genre: History
ISBN: 1580464483

This text examines the history of the medical services provided by workhouses, both in Britain and its former colonies, during the 18th and 19th centuries.