On November 11th 1918, the Great War came to an end. The air was full of the intoxicating spirit of joy as church bells rang across the country. At Moorgate the joy of the occasion swept through the wards. The men gathered in a special entertainment night and special meals was given. The men raised their glasses to toast the king, the staff and hospital committee. The men who were well enough went home straight away. However the hospital would continue to remain open until about May the following year as some soldiers were so badly injured that they needed long term medical care.
Because of the influenza epidemic in March 1919 the War Office stopped entertainment nights and all social gatherings. The epidemic affected three-quarter of the British population and altogether 15000 people were killed. Rotherham doctors couldn't cope with the demand with a dozen deaths every week. In one week alone in November 95 people lost their lives. Many tragic stories were reported in the Advertiser including, a woman who sadly lost her son in war and her two daughters to the flu.
A few of the soldiers and paupers were sent to Badsley Moor Hospital for specialist treatment. Working class men had returned from war to slum houses and unemployment and the men began to demand change. Sir Donald Maclean said in a population of 38 million who had the vote that the whole Poor Law system had outlived its usefulness. The Ministry of Health in 1919 replaced the Local Government Board. By November a change in the nurses working hours and pay was reviewed. Their working hours were reduced to 51 hours a week and another two nurses were employed so this could be enforced. The question of a 48-hour working week was being considered but due to lack of sleeping accommodation it was not possible to operate a 48-hour week. The probationary nurses worked from 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Staff Nurses from 7.40 a.m. to 8. p.m. and the Sister from 8 a.m. to 8. p.m. most probationer nurses would work on month on day and the next on nights. A slight increase in pay was given to all the nurses, a probationary nurse could earn up to £20 10s by her third year.
© Neil and Janet Croft 2005