h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was a patient in the Marguerite Hepton hospital at Thorp Arch from around 1944 to 1948, with TB of the spine. We all had bone TB of some kind. For spinal TB, immobilized bed rest was the only treatment - laid in a plaster bed moulded to fit your body - until antibiotics like streptomycin began to be used around 1947. This, and a new way of doing spinal surgery, meant that many like me were cured and could go on to live a normal life. Even so, I reckon living immobile between the ages of 3 and 8 made a difference to the way I related to my body.

I'd really like to be in touch with other patients, or people who nursed or taught us, at the Thorp Arch hospital, to exchange memories and experiences. The hospital itself has disappeared - for a while it became a residential care home for elderly people, and then it closed. Eventually, the site was sold to a private builder, and is now covered in houses. I went looking for it a couple of years ago, and could find no sign.

Please will anyone who has memories of this place, or who knows where I should go to look for more join in this conversation.

My htg2 name is patient professor - we could get round to real names in due course

Dear patientprof,

I haven't had more than a very quick look, but both
'Thorpe Arch' and
'Marguerite Hepton hospital' show up with a good few results on a Google search, some of which look as if they may be useful...

Hi,
I too was a patient in thorparch.It was 1957,I dont think a lot had changed.I had osteomyltos and had plaster from chest down.I was only in for 6 months.The thing I missd most was not being able to see one of my sisters as she was too young at 11 to visit. The visiting days were wed sat and sunday afternoons.
After I was discharged I went to Ppotternewton school.
I lived near Roundhay Park.
Dot

Hi Patientprof,
I am quite new to computers so forgive me if I don't get it right.
I was in Thorpe Arch Hospital in 1957.
I had osteomyelitis,I had a plaster from chest down.
The memories are mixed there were some good times and bad.
I hated only having visitors 3 times a week.
I liked the school part of it and I really liked eating outdoors when the birds used to come on our knives and forks
After I left I went to Potternewton school for a while,then on to a comprehensive school
I now live in Wales have 3 grown up children and 7 Grandchildren.
My sister worked at thorp arch as a cadet nurse,she remembers the Bachelors visiting
Dot