Charitable Works

Before the start of the National Health Service the practical needs of the hospital and its patients, such a bed linen, pillows and curtains, had to be provided through other sources.

One way these items were procured was through the Comforts Fund; this was an organisation set up to support those less fortunate who were in hospital. The Fund provided those who required it with a bag which contained soap, flannel, pen and paper and other small items which would be useful while in hospital. The money for this Fund came from local donation through different fundraising events. The hospital and the Fund capitalised on the feeling of community ownership of the hospital and ran competitions to see which local pub could collect the most to support the hospital.

An older way that support was through the Lady Visitors who came to the hospital. As far back as the first hospital report in 1873 mention of these charitable ladies is given. This charitable position can be traced back to Elizabeth Fry’s charitable visits to prisoners at Newgate Prison. The visits undertaken by the women at Doncaster Gate Hospital were of a less extreme nature. The Lady Visitors were supervised by the Chaplin; they undertook essentially religious work but were also involved in encouraging social change. These women would have contributed to the atmosphere of the hospital as well as doing their best for the comfort of the patients.

During the 1930s and into the 1940s another way of supporting the Hospital grew up. The Linen League; this was a group of women who committed to donate linen and money to the hospital on an annual basis. Each year a garden party was held by the League and the goods and money donated were presented to the hospital. The Linen League ran all across Rotherham, however, Mrs Evan’s notebook is a rare example of how local women were able to support the hospital. Mrs Evan’s daughter, Mrs Clarke, who donated the book has childhood memories of the garden parties, especially the year she was selected to present the bouquet of flowers to the Countess Fitzwilliam.