REPORT ON THE SEPTEMBER 2006 MEETING

RUTH LANCASTER JAMES HOSPITAL

The current uncertainty over the future of the Ruth Lancaster James Hospital in Alston prompted the Alston Moor Historical Society to dedicate a recent meeting to the hospital, giving an account of how it came into being. The Society Archivist, Alistair Robertson, presented a detailed paper, supported by appropriate documents and photographs, covering the events leading up to the building of the hospital. It was very clear that there were considerable difficulties in reaching the stage that the building work was allowed to start. The problems which were experienced then sound very similar to those of the present situation. There was no sense of interest or urgency from the then decision making authority, the Rural District Council (RDC).

The first initiative came in 1895 from a Miss Ada Richardson who wrote to the RDC asking for consideration to be given to the provision of a trained nurse for the Alston area. The request was turned down as the RDC had ‘no means at their disposal’ for furthering the objective. However in 1898 the RDC decided to apply for Urban Powers under the Public Health Acts of 1875 and 1890.

In 1902 the Isolation Hospital Committee recommended that a site be sought for a new hospital and that in the interim a temporary building be found. Haltwhistle Council was invited to join the project. Whilst in modern times Alston has little affinity with Haltwhistle, it was then the easiest large town to get to as it was the end of the railway line which was the main mode of transport in and out of Alston. Many workers in the Alston area lived in Haltwhistle and used the train to get to work. A year later a plan supported by both councils was prepared for a joint Isolation Hospital. However the Medical Officer was not happy with the proposed site and asked for the whole plan to be reconsidered. By the end of 1903, after the consideration of a number of existing buildings, only a house at High Shield Hill was regarded as suitable but it was need of repair. A further report was requested.

At this point in the story a lady called Ruth Lancaster James is called upon to play a major role. She was a resident of Woolton, Liverpool, but owned estates on Alston Moor and was very generous to local good causes. The most significant was the paying off of a large debt on the Fairhill Recreation Ground. She was anxious to do more and responded positively to a petition she received for the building of a hospital.

In 1906 plans were drawn up for a Cottage Hospital and in 1907 permission was granted for a sewage drain to be laid beneath the road to the cemetery. One feature of the new building was the provision of modern style flush toilets – a novelty at the time. Mrs James had endowed the project with £5000 for building and upkeep. This inspired other legacies to be made. The cost of the building was £2026 and it was duly opened in 1908 by Lady Mabel Howard. Tragically Mrs James did not live to see it open as she died in 1907. Some of the money was used to purchase a 3-acre field in front of the new building and this provided to be an inspired move as there were soon to be buildings on the other 3 sides but the frontal views were preserved for posterity.

Treatment was not free at the point of delivery. To help ease the burden of payment a form of insurance facility known as the Recommend Scheme was introduced in the 1920’s. Organisations were able to join by payment, on behalf of its members, the sum of eight guineas per annum. Individuals were also able to join by paying one penny per week .At that time staying in the hospital cost two guineas per week and an operation cost eleven guineas. There was an element of means testing as anybody with an income over £250 per annum was subject to an additional levy.

The first doctor was a local man, Stewart Carson, who worked on the Moor for 45 years and was a prime mover of the hospital project. In 1928, after he died in 1925, the building of a memorial was inaugurated by a donation of £200 from local business man, Isaac Walton.The appeal was to reach the target of £1,200.

The demands placed upon the hospital grew and there were many accidents in the mines and quarries. It was clear that an extension was required and this was opened in 1929. Whilst main contractors Craig Brothers and Keartons did much of the work, they were assisted by Vieille Montagne miners (who had the benefit of their own hospital fund) in their spare time. The company donated a great deal of material. Shortly before the opening ceremony it was obliged to receive two patients – motorcyclists who had a head-on collision. Clearly some things have not changed!

Some interesting statistics were given e.g. the Annual Report of 1930 shows that there had been 23 live births, 8 of which were illegitimate, plus 5 still births. The birth rate on Alston Moor was low at 11.55 per thousand compared with the county rate of 17.2. However it compared favourably with 1901 when the local rate was a depressing 2.23.

The arrival of the NHS saw a flurry of activity and a planned extension for a new wing, complete with X-ray room, was completed in 1950. Statements made by officials of the day are worth recalling:-

• The Alston Hospital provided ‘relief to the base hospital – the Cumberland Infirmary – which was so much needed’ (newspaper report)
• ‘the retention of adequate nursing staff was important’ (Dr. Kenneth Fraser of Newcastle Regional Hospital Board)
• ‘the National Health Service Act has come into being but it is still true, or can be true, that the hospital is the hospital belonging to the area which it serves’ (Mr T B Harston, Chairman of the special area committee for Cumberland and North Westmorland

These comments have a particularly poignant ring about them at the present time! The hospital was further extended in 1961 for a maternity wing and nursery, and in 1994 and as recently as 1998 to cater for the clinic.

History shows us that the hospital had a difficult birth and now, almost 100 years later, it is once again struggling with bureaucracy for survival and its continued existence.

A very good audience was present and at the close of Alistair’s presentation Richard Turner led a period of reflection and reminiscences with contributions from many of the audience. The audience included former medical staff and patients with their own insight and remembrances of hospital life in the early days. Also present were people who had been born in the hospital and one lady who had given birth to all her five children there.

The Chairman thanked Alistair for his presentation and also for organising the weekend summer exhibition. This proved to be hugely popular and almost 800 visitors attended.

The next meeting of the Society will be on Wednesday the 4th October in the Masonic Hall when the speaker, Mr Brian McKay and his subject will be ‘Cumbrian Printed Chapbooks - their place in popular culture