Gulson Road Hospital

I wish my mum was still alive, I am sure she would have some interesting tales to tell about Gulson, one being when she was presented with me after giving birth I had a finger all wrapped up and of course she was concerned, the explanation being I had a difficult journey into the world. She had a few visits to Gulson over the years and she never enjoyed any of them. Since then probably why I insisted on having my two at home.

I too was born there in 1949. I also did part of my nurse training there. Worked on female ward and theatres. I remember a strict theatre sister who was a bully to us students. Cannot remember her name. I was there nursing in 1975 then went back there to work on paeds ward in 1980.

#69 Neil, I like your photos of Gulson Road. The second b&w view has buildings (houses) on the left. I am wondering if they may include Herbert's Row where my great-grandparents lived? It was fairly well up towards the London Road on that side of the photo but it seems a possibility, should anyone know.

I have a lot of unhappy memories of Gulson Hospital, not only the dentist. I too have a phobia to this day brought about by smelly rubber masks and being held down while the gas took effect. I also had a thing about needles, vaccinations at Gulson included 4 people dragging me in to get a measles jab. I'm sure I left at least two nails in the door frame, the doctor was furious and told my mother she should "control" me. Even the promise of a lollipop, and a visit to the pet shop, had no effect, I remember slapping the lolly from the nurse's hand and telling them they could keep it. Thankfully things have changed, but I still need at least one gin and tonic before I see a dentist!

Only one G & T Covgirl? I need a full gas tank!

Hi Prof I'm pretty sure part of Herberts Row is visible here - between the red crosses - though it was not to be for much longer (it's on the map image you posted). The aerial imagery was taken in 1930 - as you can see here though building was underway for the Hospital/Welfare centre and the row has disappeared when I look at my 1937 map.

Many thanks Neil. That's great information!

I also had the facemask forced on my face by the "dentist", then I was led to bathroom after a tooth extraction, bleeding, and just left alone in shock. Those people were very inhuman.

Just a thought . . barbers were also 'dentists' - maybe that is where 'barbarism' originated?

I'm a 'newbie' to HCF, joining late 2019. My Gulson Road Hospital experience goes back some time. I dodged taking the leaving school medical examination and thought I was free and clear until my school headmaster informed me that my parents would be notified of my non-conformance to policy! This meant that my parents were formally instructed to have me attend Gulson Road Hospital on a specified date, and time, for the dreaded medical! Glad to say I survived the lady doctor and her stethoscope! Funny the things you recall which seemed so insignificant at the time.

I had a giggle with that one, 17COV145. I was born there and my next visit was with a note from school getting my head lice off my premises. I was so happy when I saw a friend there also, so the ordeal was not so bad. Commonly named the nit clinic in my day.

Nitty Nora, the bug explorer.

I didn't know we had a mutual friend, Helen.

I have two memories of Gulson Road Hospital during the 1950's: one very unpleasant, age 6, that mirrors others experiences with the school dentist; the other was a short stay in a side ward about 5 years later where I found a much more relaxed attitude compared with a previous stay on the children's ward at Keresley Hospital. I recall getting sister into trouble with matron though. To relieve boredom myself and 3 compatriots from the side ward would help place chairs next to the beds in the main ward just before visiting time. Unfortunately, I did not spot matron paying a visit and carried on with the task. Sister looked rather crestfallen after a telling off and we were not allowed to help again. There was some horseplay between the nurses and the junior doctors, one of whom had a Sherlock Holmes pipe that the nurses hid. I remember one nurse getting into trouble with sister for letting thermometers slip out of her hand while shaking them down. Today, this would create a hazmat emergency to recover and neutralise the spilt mercury. I wonder how much mercury vapour is seeping through the tarmac of the university car park?