| Admin History | Nottingham General Hospital was founded as a charitable institution by public subscription in 1782. In 1940, there were 29 consultants, physicians, surgeons and other senior medical staff, and one Matron. At the formation of the National Health Service in 1948 and the take over of the hospital by the Sheffield Regional Board, the hospital comprised 423 beds and 114 at the Cedars. Following the opening of the University Hospital, the Queen's Medical Centre, in 1977, many services were transferred there from the General. The reduction of services continued throughout the 1980s and in 1992 the General Hospital finally, closed, with its functions moving either to the University Hospital or to the City Hospital.
Little is known about Marion Simpson beyond what can be ascertained from the contents of this collection. According to her student nurse records (Uhg/T1/1), she was from Lincoln, and was educated at Lincoln Girls High School. She entered the School of Nursing at Nottingham General Hospital on 1 September 1933, aged 18. She qualified as a State Registered Nurse in October 1936 and completed her training in 1937. She left Nottingham General Hospital to take up Maternity training. From 1940 until her death on 24 September 1965, Miss Simpson worked at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and was instrumental in the implementation of Intensive Care treatment there. |
| Custodial History | The collection was given to the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections by a colleague of Miss Simpson in 1994. |
| Description | The collection comprises a notebook, photographs and other material relating to Miss Simpson.
General Hospital Nurses Training School student's notebook kept by Nurse Marion Simpson from 1933-1936. Includes notes on nursing techniques and treatments, taken in lectures and on the wards; Tutor Sister's remarks; a record of lectures attended and examinations taken; of holidays and sickness; and of wards worked in (MS 381/1);
Black and white photograph of Marion Simpson taken during her second year of training at the General Hospital, Nottingham, c.1935 (MS 381/2);
Black and white snapshot photograph of nurses Simpson, Spencer, Pedley and Dimelow, in uniform, 1937 (MS 381/3);
Photocopied typescript obituary of Sister Marion Simpson, written for the University of Birmingham Medical Journal, c.1965 (MS 381/4);
Photocopied typescript introduction, by Professor A.L. d'Abreu of Birmingham, for the 'Manual of Intensive Care' written by the late Sister Marion Simpson and edited by Miss May Spencer, Principal Tutor, 1 Sep. 1966 (MS 381/5);
Nottingham General Hospital nurse's badge, inscribed '513'; and General Nursing Council for England and Wales badge, inscribed 'M. Simpson / S.R.N. / 85129 / 27.11.36' (MS 381/6-7). |