South Western Region Schools Timeline - 1974

In 1974 there were 25 Schools/combined schools of nursing in the South Western Region of the NHS involving 92 hospitals in nurse training - spread across 23 geographical regions of the UK. 13 regions in  England - plus 7 regions covering the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Wales and Scotland. Not forgetting of course the Schools of Nursing of the armed services, each of which used it's own military hospitals.

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, 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.

In 1974 there were 27 main qualifications which students of nursing studied and trained for. Which number did not include many highly specialized courses, including university degrees, followed consecutively and concurrently by basic course students and qualified nurses. Midwifery training has always been a feature....

The 1974 timeline is about the schools of nursing which trained the vast majority of nurses who then practiced in the UK.  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. All about it.... Welcome!!

   1 Bath School of Nursing
   2 Cheltenham General Hospital School of Nursing.
   3 Devizes and District Hospital School of Nursing.
   4 Exe Vale Hospital School of Nursing.
   5 Exeter School of Nursing.
   6 Frenchay Group School of Nursing.
   7 Glenside and Barrow School of Nursing.
   8 Gloucester Group School of Nursing.
   9 Hortham Hospital School of Nursing.
 10 Mendip Hospital School of Nursing.
 11 North Devon School of Nursing.
 12 Plymouth District School of Nursing.
 13 Roundway Hospital School of Nursing.
 14 Royal Cornwall School of Nursing.
 15 Royal Western Counties Group School of Nursing.
 16 St Michael's Hospital School of Nursing.
 17 Sandhill Park Hospital School of Nursing.
 18 Southmead Group School of Nursing.
 19 Stoke Park Hospital Group School of Nursing.
 20 Taunton and Somerset Hospital School of Nursing.
 21 Tone Vale Hospital School of Nursing.
 22 The Torbay School of Nursing.
 23 United Bristol Hospitals School of Nursing.
 24 Weston-super-Mare General Hospital School of Nursing
 25 Yeovil District Hospital School of Nursing.
School  Region Home Bibliography Forum