| Description | Records of the East London Nursing Society, 1877-1968, consisting of minute books, 1877-1959, visitors book, 1933-1968, and photograph albums, c 1930s-1963.
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| AdminHistory | The East London Nursing Society was formed in 1868, the first association in London for district nursing only. The object of the society was to provide trained nurses for the sick poor in their own homes without distinction of creed. It was formed to co-ordinate the work of three private nurses engaged in the parishes of Bromley, St. Phillip's, Stepney and St. Saviour's, Bromley. Between 1875 and 1880 the society united with the Metropolitan and National Nursing Association becoming the Eastern Division of that association but in 1881 the Society assumed its original independent position. By this time eight nurses were employed under one matron. By 1889 this had grown to 25 nurses and four matrons.
In 1917 money raised by the winding up of the Tower Hamlets Dispensary (founded in 1792) was transferred to the East London Nursing Society. In the 1930s the Society operated two divisions (there had previously been more), a Northern and a Southern Division. In 1933 a new home for the Southern Division was opened in Stainsby Road. This was extended in 1936 and to accommodate nurses from the Northern Home in Bow Road the lease of which was then sold. The Society played an important roll during the Second World War. Following the National Health Act of 1948, the London County Council undertook to pay 90% of the Society's approved expenditure. Following local government reorganisation in 1965 the East London Nursing Society continued its work of district nursing by arrangement with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, but in 1969 the Council took began direct control of the Home Nursing Service. The Society reconstituted itself as the East London Nursing Society Trust to relieve in cases of need persons resident in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets who are sick, convalescent, disabled, handicapped or infirm.
For more detailed history see "East London Nursing Society 1868-1968, The History of a Hundred Years" in Local History Library. |
| CustodialHistory | The records were deposited by the Society in 1971. |