At ‘The Min’

I  have been inside this historic building before to attend meetings - many years ago - but have never had the occasion to be still and look around at the oil portraits on the walls, the statues and the grand staircase.

As there is now a major appeal to site a new, state of the art, Rheumatology Unit on the main RUH campus at Combe Park, I assume that the Min (or the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases to give it its correct name) as a building will cease to exist.

Of course it was originally built in its town centre location in close proximity to the Hot Sorings to enable patients to be treated for their ailments by immersion in the mineral waters.

In the waiting area, some framed reminders (in teatowel form, so perhaps produced for fundraising) of how things were for staff and patients not so very long ago.  The Duties of Nurses is undated but the Rules for Patients date from 1939.  If you are able to zoom in to these pictures you will see that it was a fairly tough regime for patients and staff alike.  Nurses appeared to be living in.

 For patients fresh air was obviously considered very important except on bath days (presumably days on which they had received treatment in the hot baths).  Fresh air was definitely not approved of, however, on rainy days.  Three glasses of the mineral water from the springs were to be consumed throughout each day.  Patients were required to help out with light work (men) and dusting (women).  No mention of smoking for the women but on the men’s ward that was ok.