Registers of Operations

Prior to the inception of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948, all operations at the hospital were carried out by the house physicians and surgeons, while all anaesthetics were administered by general practitioners (the first full-time anaesthetists were not appointed until 1950). However, since the hospital came under NHS control, the number of specialised departments and medical staff has increased exponentially. Naturally, the increasing complexity of the hospital is reflected in the differing types and scope of the operations registers.

It is worth noting that internal evidence (usually the patient reference numbers) has been used to identify which volumes belong to which series of operations registers.

The operations registers have been organised as follows:

1/1-48 General Surgery 1919-1978

2/1-3 Out-Patients 1939x1952

3/1-7 Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) 1952-1969

4/1-5 Bell and Lucas Theatre 1969-1974

5/1-7 Theatre and Plastic Room 1970-1975