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by Jenny Gill
“Miss Jenny Gill, a trained nurse and experienced archivist has brought together in her book Other Hospitals in Launceston, 19th-21st Century, a remarkable treasure trove of information about early Launceston hospitals and the band of dedicated women who provided medical, surgical and midwifery care either in their homes or in the community hospitals they established across Launceston.
Jenny's diligent research reveals the innovative actions of these women and the medical practitioners who supported them, which raised the standards of medical and midwifery care prevailing in Launceston in the early 19th century. The first hospitals were provided by the government for the exclusive care of military personnel. Many in the community regarded these hospitals as one step removed from the grave. Infested with vermin and filthy beyond belief, staffed in many cases by convicts with little or no training, a patient needed to be fortunate indeed to be able to return to the community in good health.
It is possible that many Launceston residents will find the names of forebears in the lists of women who provided nursing and midwifery care. They can be proud that their ancestors provided the foundations of the extraordinarily high standard of nursing care available in the hospitals and home care services of today.
Jenny has also identified the sites of most of the early hospitals of which she writes. If the reader enjoys walking around this city, then employing this book as a guide will greatly enhance their experience.”
Dr. John Paull MB BS, Dip Ed, FANZCA Consultant Anaesthetist (Retired)”
by Jenny Gill
“Miss Jenny Gill, a trained nurse and experienced archivist has brought together in her book Other Hospitals in Launceston, 19th-21st Century, a remarkable treasure trove of information about early Launceston hospitals and the band of dedicated women who provided medical, surgical and midwifery care either in their homes or in the community hospitals they established across Launceston.
Jenny's diligent research reveals the innovative actions of these women and the medical practitioners who supported them, which raised the standards of medical and midwifery care prevailing in Launceston in the early 19th century. The first hospitals were provided by the government for the exclusive care of military personnel. Many in the community regarded these hospitals as one step removed from the grave. Infested with vermin and filthy beyond belief, staffed in many cases by convicts with little or no training, a patient needed to be fortunate indeed to be able to return to the community in good health.
It is possible that many Launceston residents will find the names of forebears in the lists of women who provided nursing and midwifery care. They can be proud that their ancestors provided the foundations of the extraordinarily high standard of nursing care available in the hospitals and home care services of today.
Jenny has also identified the sites of most of the early hospitals of which she writes. If the reader enjoys walking around this city, then employing this book as a guide will greatly enhance their experience.”
Dr. John Paull MB BS, Dip Ed, FANZCA Consultant Anaesthetist (Retired)”