In 1919 the hospital had a total of 239 beds and that year 146 males and 93 females were treated along with 15 children and 21 babies. The hospital now had an operating theatre as well as a maternity ward. The superintendent nurse was said to run a tight ship, supported by 8 sisters, 7 staff nurses, 3 nursing nurses, 19 probationer nurses and 2 male nurses. One probation nurse was asked to leave her job owing to her deafness but she did continue her employment within the workhouse.
Dr. Nutt was appointed to perpare the nurses for their exam certificate and the fee of £3 3s.3d was charged for holding the examination. By November the same year a probationer Nurse was employed at a salary of £11 10s for the first year, £16 the second and £20 10s thereafter. She would start work on B block, a female ward and her working week was 51 hours.
1919 and 1920 were boom years for the shipyards and cotton industries being busier then
they had ever been. Rotherham's first council houses were being built at East Dene
allowing people to have good homes at affordable rents. There was new investment in local
industry but workers were expected to work in pre war conditions. Within two years this
optimism had turned to gloom and many industries such as mining and engineering led to
calls for wages cuts. Unemployment began to rise and by the end of June 1921 it
passed the two million mark. After the war, Prime Minister David Lloyd George
promised "returning soldiers they would come back to a better standard of living and
homes fit for heroes to live in". As the unemployment continued to rise it led to
great political activity and unrest.
Locally things got even worse after the decision was made too privatised the mines in
1921.The new owners quickly proposed a drastic wage cut and a million miners in Britain
were locked out when they refused to accept the new terms. The miners went on strike but
were forced to return to work three months later after losing support from other unions.
Due to the industrial unrest the
number seeking help from the workhouse increased. Long term unemployment and hardship
forced many families to seek help from the workhouse. The cruel and evil effect of the
Means Test often broke up many families. Poverty and an inadequate diet led to an increase
of infectious diseases in the town.
By 1926 people bitterness with the struggle against hunger led to an uprising around the country. Another coal dispute was no nearer a solution and the miners continued their struggle alone as their families faced hunger and destitution. In July 1926, more than 400 miners marched to Rotherham Workhouse from Wath and West Melton demanding admission because they were destitute before marching to the police station resulting in violent clashes with the police until late into the night. The general strike led to a major crisis for the Rotherham Board of Guardians, they were virtually bankrupt and were unable to help the increase of paupers until the Ministry of Health sanctioned another overdraft. Unemployment continued to be a problem and in August 1930 Rotherham was declared a "depressed area". The same year the hospital was passed into the hands of Rotherham Borough Council.
© Neil and Janet Croft 2005