1937-1959

Dr. Thomas J. Hennelly took up post as Medical Superintendent after being Deputy to his predecessor, Dr. Peter McCowan.

Two years later the World War II broke out and the hospital was once again taken over by the War Office for the treatment of military casualties.

A reduced service was retained for the mentally ill.

In the brave new world that followed the war, the Whitchurch Hospital became absorbed into the National Health Service in 1948.  The hospital fell under the direction of the new Whitchurch and Ely Hospital Management Committee, many of whom had been members of the old Visiting Committee.

Dr. Hennelly, who had assumed the NHS title of ‘Physician Superintendent’, wrote these words at the time:

‘In a changing world…we need hardly fear that the transfer of ownership will be in any degree revolutionary or that for a long time, such is the state of the world, the shortage of beds and of medical personnel, any great improvement in medical services will result.’

Thanks to Tim Goosey for this post

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