The Nursing Service

Darfield people have a good reputation for voluntary activities and the Nursing Association is a good example of how the community responded to the need.

In 1912 the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. R. F. Castle, in his Annual Report to the Urban District Council, recommended the setting up of a nursing service in Darfield. There was a very high infant mortality rate.

As such a scheme would involve a rate increase it did not receive the approval of the Council. The Chairman, Mr. T. W. Illsley, favoured the scheme and called a public meeting that was sparsely attended and no progress was made.

Some time later Mr. C. Howard Taylor of Middlewood Hall, Dr. Castle and Mr. Illsley were walking up Barnsley Road and, in conversation, mentioned the scheme for a District Nurse. Mr. Taylor stated that he would build a Nurses Home and his brother Mr. Vincent T. Taylor would furnish it in memory of their late mother, Mrs. Frances Howard Taylor. This offer was made at the place on Barnsley Road where the Nurses Home now stands.As a result of this generous offer, Mr. Illsley called a further meeting of all organised societies in the township. The offer was unanimously accepted and it was agreed to form a voluntary organisation for the purpose of nursing the sick.

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The first meeting of the Association was held on 22nd October 1913. The objectives set out were:

1. To provide a fully trained nurse for the nursing of members residing in the parish of Darfield

2. To provide and supply all such medical, surgical and remedial appliances etc., as may be required

3. To provide funds for the maintenance of the Nurses Home. The officers appointed were: Chairman T. W. Illsley J.P., Vice-Chairman P. White, Secretary Mrs. E. Hammerton, Treasurer E. Smith and a committee of 13 ladies and 10 men.

Development

The committee organised the collection of contributions from members at 1d per week. The funds were required for equipment and for the salary of a nurse. It also decided to affiliate to the Queen Victoria Jubilee Nursing Institute and to the West Riding County Nursing Association. In 1914, application was made for the provision of a Queen's District Nurse and in March of that year Nurse A. Bird took up her duties.

Membership grew until 1921 when the committee found it necessary to increase the contribution from members to 2d per week and a reduction in membership followed. Another setback was the 1926 miners' strike, because 90% of the members belonged to the mining industry. An appeal was made to various bodies in Darfield to send representatives to the committee and more voluntary collectors were found. (Remember 2.4d equals 1p).

The regular inspection of the nurses' work by the W. R. Nursing Association provided excellent reports on the standards attained.

Voluntary Collectors

During its existence some 18 ladies gave valuable services collecting the contributions each month.

Finance

The greater proportion of income was derived from members' contributions. In addition, the Houghton Main Colliery Company donated four tons of coal a year and the Dearne Valley Colliery Company two tons. The West Riding Public Assistance Committee gave an annual grant of £6. The Houghton Main branch of the Yorkshire Mineworkers Association gave £5 5s per year. In 1932 the Darfield Miners Welfare Committee allocated £750 for investment, in order that the Association could use the interest. In 1934 Mr. R. H. Taylor gave £100 to the Association from the defunct Darfield Polo Club. From 1936 the Darfield Urban District Council excused the payment of rates.

The Nursing Service