Comments on: From the archives … Fever Hospital

By: Roy Paley

Roy Paley — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:48:17 +0000

When I was seven years of age 1953 I was I yearsley bridge hospital with Polio I was there for over a year and very ill but lucky not to be in an iron lung.
After year I had to attend the hospital three times a week for treatment lucky for me I could stay with my Aunty who lived not far from the hospital.
But my parents had to travel from Scarborough to see me.

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:05:50 +0000

I was working on my family tree and noticed that my 3rd cousin 2x removed had died in Fever Hospital. Of course I had to look up the hospital and am glad I did. I read every one of the comments. These made my cousin come ‘alive’ as I could envision his situation. He died 5th September 1913 but I don’t know of what illness. He was only four years old. Does anyone know if there are hospital records and where would they be kept? The last resort would be to order a death certificate which can get expensive if one is ordering copies for many other family members. I look forward to reading other people’s accounts when they are posted.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 19:03:41 +0000

I lived there as a student in 1982 working with BASF. Rowntrees Chocolate factory opposite if I’m not mistaken. I thought it was accommodation for nurses!

By: Vera leake. Maiden name Morgan

Vera leake. Maiden name Morgan — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 15:33:11 +0000

I was evacuated to Scarborough in early September 1939 , I became ill with diphtheria around December I think it was and was admitted to the fever hospital. I was very ill and had to be nursed flat for some considerable time.I was still a patient at Easter. My parents who lived in Middlesbrough came to visit but were only allowed to see me through the tall external Windows. They brought me a beatiful chocolate hen in a box with wood shavings for bedding,an uncle had sent me a multi sided threepenny piece and had hidden it under the chick. After the choc hen had been taken away and distributed amongst the remaining children a nurse came along and disposed of my precious box along with my threepenny piece and threw it in the huge heating stove which was situated in the middle of the large ward, I wept for days. Eventually I finally got my three negative throat swabs and beat a hasty retreat.I had another ghastly experience during my incarceration but will keep it for another day unless of course you would like to read about it. I shall be 88yrs in three months time .regards, ‘ve.

By: Lisa @YorkStories

Lisa @YorkStories — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 21:09:06 +0000

It’s very moving to read these comments, so many have included the word ‘lonely’, as you have, Alastair. Thank you for adding your memories to this page.

By: Alastair Macdonald

Alastair Macdonald — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 07:26:07 +0000

I thought I would take a trip down memory lane to see if there was anything that might remain on the Fever Hospital. My younger sister and I spent almost 6 months each in the hospital in 1949. I was 5 and she was 2. We had both developed typhoid fever from our grandmother who happened to be a carrier of Salmonella ( she was an asymptomatic carrier) Later I found that she had not been told about the fact that she had infected us. One of those things that remained remained a secret. Interestingly she lived until the ripe old age of 93 years. She was an absolute stalwart and looked after me well when I was a medical student in Edinburgh. Although such a set of circumstances ( re infectivity ) could not be hidden these days- I am very glad that she was not told of what had happened.
My abiding memory is of my younger sister and I being the only patients in a very large ward. The only people who visited us were my parents and my uncle and Aunt. I remember being incredibly lonely and was not even allowed to be close to my sister.
Perhaps this is why my sister and get along so well now.

Fortunately the memory of all of this is vary vague and to be honest this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Glad that it happened so early in my life. Thanks for the opportunity to be able to reflect on this experience.