Military Hospital  (back to top)

Botwood Hospital was built by the military in 1942 and operated by the Canadian Army. "The building is a fully equipped one hundred (100) bed Institution...." (Miller, 1945).

Margaret Chisholm was a Military Nurse at Botwood Hospital in 1943. In an interview with Chisholm, she recalled some of the staff of the hospital while she was stationed in Botwood:
 

The Commanding Officer at the hospital was Colonel Edward Bird and two of the doctors were Dr. Kirkpatrick and Dr. Ramsey. Lieutenant Nursing Sisters were: Nora Kenny (Matron), Jesse B. Smith, Ruth MacLeod, Lettie Turner, and Margaret Briggs (Gill, 1989).

With regard to the Hospital at Botwood, judging by Cottage Hospital construction and equipment costs, we could not replace this building (even at post war prices) for less than one quarter of a million. Although a bit down-at-heel and not elaborately equipped, all essential things are there, and so far as facilities are concerned, the place is ready for any use to which anybody might want to put it.

As you know, the problems are those of location and staffing. I have gone into the various possibilities, and do not hesitate to say that at present we could not staff this Hospital and therefoe could not undertake to look after any service or any other personnel as is suggested in the correspondence of last month (extracts are enclosed). Doctor Smith at Botwood feels that he has neither the time nor the qualifications to take over and run an active one hundred bed Hospital (Letter, 1945).

Staff of Botwood Cottage Hospital  (back to top)

The first doctor employed was Dr. Duncan Rowe; he left in July of 1948. Dr. Larry Sutherland and Dr. Blake then followed. On September 3,1949 Dr. Hugh Twomey took up practice at the hospital. Thus began a long history of devotion to duty which earned him respect and love from all those who knew him. He retired in 1984 to enter politics full time.

Nursing staff consisted of two nurses, (Geraldine Fitzgerald, Head Nurse, and Margaret Noonan, Staff Nurse), six nurse's aids (Mary Coffin, Sadie Thompson, Blanche Snelgrove, Millie Drover, Lenora Brown and Mary Chatman), and two orderlies (George Aitken and Woodrow Fudge). On April 1, 1947 Fred Stride was hired as an orderly. The nursing staff, other than two nurses, had little or no training. Nurse Fitzgerald taught them how to give injections, do dressings, administer medications, make beds, etc.

The work schedule consisted of 12-hour shifts (two weeks of nights followed by one day off, then two weeks of days). On day shift two hours of rest were given where possible and half a day a week. There was one orderly and one nurse's aide on night duty, plus a nurse on call. Most times the nurse would be up during the night for a delivery or surgery.

Anaesthetics were administered by Nurse Fitzgerald or Nurse Noonan. In 1947 Dr. Davey Tulk gave his first anaesthesia at the hospital and held this position until March 1970.

The first laboratory and X-ray services were provided by Miss Fitzgerald and Miss Noonan. In July 1950 Mariem Duff took up duties as a combined laboratory and X-ray technician.

Other staff members from 1947 to 1950 were: Amy Drover, Clotilda Foley, Irene Elson, Helen Duke, Dorcas Patey, Edith Saunders, Daphne Langdon, Ethel Hancock, Joan Cleary, Clarice Evans, Madeline Humphries, Matila Maddigan, Pauline Brennan, Miss Tapper, Effie Pelley, Georgina Edison, Janet Freake, Rose Locke, Sadie Brent, Pierce Saunders, June Gillingham, Miss Blakey, Miss Case, Beatrice Hancock, May Hamlyn, Joyce Drover, Phyllis Bugden, Miss Blunden, Rita Elliott, Amanda Ouinlan, Ruby Wall, Mrs. Tom Rex Norman, Mrs. Batstone, and Cyril Callahan. There were many others who have given invaluable service to the hospital but the list would be too long to mention.

New Equipment

In March 1952 the new ward for children was completed. In later years, the local Lion's Club installed a medical whirlpool and other voluntary services to add to the long history of public support for the hospital.

New Outpatient Clinic  (back to top)

In June 1965 the new Outpatient Clinic of the Botwood Cottage Hospital opened. A new, modern lounge replaced the minute, old "waiting room." The waiting room at Botwood Hospital's new Outpatients Clinic was an asset to the town of Botwood. Adjoining the lounge, or waiting room, on one side was the medical records office and on the other side were 3 examining rooms, I minor operating room, and a physiotherapy unit.

In the Outpatients' Department alone, roughly 20,000 patients were treated annually. There were over 1800 admissions a year to the hospital which also recorded over 600 deliveries each year. In the surgery department well over 750 surgical procedures were recorded yearly, averaging out to two a day. The area served by the hospital was quite large, taking in not only Botwood, but neighbouring communities and settlements in Notre Dame Bay.

In 1965 there was a staff of 3 medical doctors, 7 registered nurses, 19 ward aids, 15 maids, 2 cooks, I housekeeper, 4 orderlies, 4 firemen, 1 janitor, 1 maintenance man, 1 secretary-treasurer, and 2 medical records clerks. Dr. Twomey was superintendent and Joan Warman was matron. In addition, there were four visiting specialists from the Central Newfoundland Hospital.

Earliest Arrivals  (back to top)

The first baby boy born at Botwood Cottage Hospital was Gerald, born to Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Rees of Botwood on November 7, 1946.

The first baby girl was Lois, born to Mr. & Mrs. Harold Gill of Botwood on November 10, 1946.

One of the highlights of Botwood Hospital was the delivery of triplets to Mr. and Mrs. Llewellyn Collins of Lewisporte on December 22,1965. The three babies (Larry, Lisa and Lorne) were born in the order of - 10:00 am, male, 5 lbs. 1 1/4 oz.; 10:08 am, female, 5 lbs 6 1/2 oz.; 10:20 am, male, 6 lbs. 3/4 oz.

Dr. Hugh Matthew Twomey

The citation below [also displayed at the Heritage Center] speaks for itself on Dr. Twomey's career.
 

On August 2,1989 Dr. Hugh Twomey died in his home at Botwood; he was 68 and had endured a lengthy battle with cancer. Dr. Twomey died less than two months after his dream (The Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Care Center) became a reality.
 
 

After 43 years of service, Botwood Cottage Hospital closed its doors in June 1989. The closing ceremonies took place in December of 1988 and continued for three days. A Friday night social, a Saturday night banquet, and a Sunday morning church service were all part of the festivities. Emotions ran high when this chapter in the hospital's history closed.
 

The role of the hospital has slowly changed with more emphasis being placed on long-term care as opposed to acute care Fortunately, all of us recognized those changes and we responded to them by building a new modern chronic care centre which will be the state of the art, fully and able to meet the needs of the 1990s and far beyond (Twomey, 1989).

The hospital's history and the sentiments of all persons connected with the hospital during the past 43 years are best expressed in the following "Tribute to Botwood Hopsital" by Herb Greening, Nursing Assistant:

                                                This old building's getting battered

                                                Paint is peeling from its walls,

                                                Soon all its doors will be closing

                                                But let us for a moment pause.

                                                This old building faithfully served us,

                                                Upon out tables placed our bread,

                                                It was built with pride and hardship

                                                By gallant men some which are dead.

                                                Here we cared for sick and dying,

                                                Held a hand and gave a smile,

                                                Gently washed some aged person,

                                                Helped a mother have her child.

                                                Years have passed - the building's old now,

                                                Modern age has caused its death,

                                                Things have changed since first I came here

                                                But we don't plan to leave it yet.

                                                No more surgery is performed here,

                                                No more babies here are born,

                                                But we'll stay with this old building

                                                Until from it we are torn.

                                                We have had some fun and laughter

                                                Also we have had our tears,

                                                Tragedy has his us often

                                                With the passing of the years.

                                                Still we love this dear old building,

                                                For fond memories we do share,

                                                Modern age will send us moving,

                                                Into our new Chronic Care.

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