Social Centre, Sunderland
11th Durham Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital
Type: Hospital
The following information comes from records held at the archives at the Museum of the Order of St John, and is used with their kind permission. Reference OSJ/1/1/12/10:
VAD Hospital, Social centre, Sunderland
September 14th 1917
Commandant: Dr Chalmers
Hospital: This is a house which has been kindly lent for the purpose of a hospital.
Beds: 40 beds in
2 wards
Trained staff: 1 Matron
1 Staff Nurse
Massage:
VADs: 14 VADs all live out, and are unable to give full time.
Paid help: 1 Carwoman
Remarks: This hospital is in good order. There is every convenience and good recreation and mess rooms. The stores and kitchen departments are in good order, and all are working happily.
Signed: SA Swift
1) Number of beds: 26
Whether for officers only: no
Whether for officers and rank & file: no
Stating numbers of each: –
Whether for rank & file alone: yes
2) Staff provided
Number of medical men available: 18
Number of nurses fully trained: 4
3) Whether full provision of
a) beds: yes
b) hospital stores and drugs: yes
c) food: yes
4) Are you prepared to undertake the whole cost of maintenance, including pay of entire staff, if so, for how long? duration of war
If not, state definitely what financial aid is required: –
Commandant: James Chalmers MDCM
For further information:
Museum of the Order of St John http://museumstjohn.org.uk/research/st-john-archive/
VAD Hospitals in Northumberland and Durham 1914-1918 http://www.donmouth.co.uk/local_history/VAD/VAD_hospitals.html
Scarlet Finders http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/181.html
Historic Environment Record http://www.twsitelines.info/SMR/16488
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Contributed by Henry R | Durham County Record Office
