St Tydfil's Hospital
Encyclopedia
Saint Tydfil's Hospital (Welsh
: Ysbyty Sant Tydfil) in Merthyr Tydfil
, Wales
(at ) started out life as part of the old Merthyr Workhouse
, which was built in 1853. At this time it was known as 'The Infirmary', a name that it informally retained well into the latter part of the 20th century. It consisted of four men's rooms, four women's rooms, one 'lying-in' ward (Maternity) and two recovery rooms. There was accommodation for 65 patients. A House Surgeon
was appointed in 1853 with a salary of £25. A Nurse and Porter (husband and wife), were also appointed. 1865 saw the appointment of an assistant nurse. By 1863, two nurseries and an 'Idiot Ward' were also available.
A new Infirmary building was erected in 1867. Ample accommodation was now available for the sick, with special fever
wards. Two large and two small rooms were added for that purpose. Two paid nurses were employed. A syphilitic ward was provided in 1882. In 1906 a new children's block was built, and additional wards were erected in 1910. This was called 'A' Block and known as Saint Paul's Ward. It originally housed male geriatric bedridden cases and also a small number of male patients certified for detention under the Mental Deficiency Act.
Today the hospital is known as Saint Tydfil's Hospital. It has seven wards and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. It has two adult psychiatry
wards, Cwmdare and Dowlais, and two old age psychiatry wards, Trecynon and Penderyn. In addition it houses three medical rehabilitation wards, Morlais, Glyndwr and Cyfartha. The site incorporates a Crisis Assessment suite with a home treatment team, which was set up in December 2007 and Ty Hafod (Hafod House) is home to the Assertive Outreach Team. It also houses the Trust's Finance and Payroll departments.
St Tydfil's has recently become part of the new Cwm Taf NHS Trust
, following the merger of the North Glamorgan and Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trusts.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
: Ysbyty Sant Tydfil) in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(at ) started out life as part of the old Merthyr Workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
, which was built in 1853. At this time it was known as 'The Infirmary', a name that it informally retained well into the latter part of the 20th century. It consisted of four men's rooms, four women's rooms, one 'lying-in' ward (Maternity) and two recovery rooms. There was accommodation for 65 patients. A House Surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
was appointed in 1853 with a salary of £25. A Nurse and Porter (husband and wife), were also appointed. 1865 saw the appointment of an assistant nurse. By 1863, two nurseries and an 'Idiot Ward' were also available.
A new Infirmary building was erected in 1867. Ample accommodation was now available for the sick, with special fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
wards. Two large and two small rooms were added for that purpose. Two paid nurses were employed. A syphilitic ward was provided in 1882. In 1906 a new children's block was built, and additional wards were erected in 1910. This was called 'A' Block and known as Saint Paul's Ward. It originally housed male geriatric bedridden cases and also a small number of male patients certified for detention under the Mental Deficiency Act.
Today the hospital is known as Saint Tydfil's Hospital. It has seven wards and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. It has two adult psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
wards, Cwmdare and Dowlais, and two old age psychiatry wards, Trecynon and Penderyn. In addition it houses three medical rehabilitation wards, Morlais, Glyndwr and Cyfartha. The site incorporates a Crisis Assessment suite with a home treatment team, which was set up in December 2007 and Ty Hafod (Hafod House) is home to the Assertive Outreach Team. It also houses the Trust's Finance and Payroll departments.
St Tydfil's has recently become part of the new Cwm Taf NHS Trust
Cwm Taf NHS Trust
Cwm Taf NHS Trust is an NHS Trust in Wales which was formed on 1 April 2008 following the merger of the North Glamorgan and Pontypridd & Rhondda NHS Trusts. Cwm Taf NHS Trust provides healthcare services mainly for the population of Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil...
, following the merger of the North Glamorgan and Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trusts.
External links
- St Tydfil's Hospital page on the NHS trust website
- Old Merthyr Tydfil: The Union Workhouse - Historical Photographs of the Union Workhouse and St. Tydfil's Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil.