South Western Region Region Schools Timeline - 1974
United Bristol Hospitals School of Nursing
Bristol

In 1974 the South Western Region's United Bristol Hospitals School of Nursing was based at Bristol Royal Infirmary, BS2 8HW. This school had training places places for 50 Combined SRN/RSCN and 150 SRN student nurses plus 76 SEN (56* General + 20 Psychiatric MS) pupil nurses per year.  There was no record of a hospital cadet/cadet nurse scheme to help feed recruitment.
* 36 General/paediatric based course.

All were part of the then still mushrooming growth of the NHS following its inception in1948.  An NHS which was to cater for all.  Cradle to the grave. An NHS attempting to cover almost all known medical conditions. Not surprising then that since that beginning there had developed a plethora of nursing specialties, some sub-divided into highly specialized categories, all designed to meet particular needs. The nurses to meet those needs - General, Sick Children's, Mental, and Mental Subnormality Nurses, were all, by 1974, being trained under the auspices of the General Nursing Councils. One for England and Wales; one for Scotland; and one for Northern Ireland.

Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol General Hospital
Bristol Homeopathic Hospital
Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Bristol Eye Hospital
Bristol Maternity Hospital
Farleigh Hospital
SRN/RSCN
SRN
SEN (General)
SEN (Psychiatric MS)
*NB. Badge ID uncertain for 1974 - verification needed.

This 1974 timeline is about the United Bristol Hospitals School of Nursing, which trained the vast majority of nurses who then initially practiced in the area.  About the courses. About the students who followed them to become registered nurses. About the awards they gained on the way. About their teachers, including ward staff. About the hospitals. About nursing practice. Above all it is about the reality of the practice of nurse education and training in the '70's. Perhaps you were one of them. If so why not tell us all about it on our forum. Welcome!!

Home  Schools   Region   Forum   Collecting   Galleries   History   Bibliography   News   Contact   National Archives