LWC HEALTHCARE
Almost a Century of Healthcare The nation has rightfully celebrated our incredible NHS during the pandemic, and we wanted to focus the spotlight on not only the immense changes to LWC’s own medical care, but also on our wonderful and dedicated Healthcare Centre team who support pupils and staff now.
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In 1969 there were plans to make the SAN a Music School, and move it to the Lodge, but this didn’t happen due to the outbreak of Hong Kong ‘flu in the Spring. The SAN stayed put until the 90’s, when the contemporary Headmaster, Guy Waller, built a new medical centre which was funded by the sale of the SAN which is now a private home known as ‘Stravanger House’.
WC has seen an unrecognizable transformation in its healthcare over the past 100 years. In the beginning, under the Warden, Colonel Julyan, the first medical centre was situated above the garages, where a District Nurse would attend. It then moved to the lodge and later, in 1927, was extended to cope with up to just 6 sick cases at a time.
Although a vast improvement on the SAN, the new Health Centre would, after 20 years or so, need attention and development once again. The tiny waiting room, limited consultation space and confined working conditions wasn’t meeting the demands of a rapidly growing school with increasing pupil and staff numbers, all needing medical services.
Health care evolved when Medical Officer, Dr E.A. Widdowson came onboard. Medical examinations were introduced for every new pupil, as well as monthly examinations of all boys, (on the first Saturday of every month), along with inspections of the buildings and surroundings. For any dental needs, boys were taken to Odiham where they endured the foot-operated drill.
Fast-forward to 7th June 2018, and the newly expanded Health Centre that we have today was open for business, driven by Headmaster, Adam Williams. The cramped waiting room is now an office space which shares the old doorway windows with the new reception area that opens out to a huge waiting room. There are now 3 clinical rooms, a sick bay, and a counselling room (which was the old GP’s room), with counsellors based there 4-5 days a week. With an array of medical equipment, an extensive knowledge and capacity to offer even more services to the LWC community, Lindsey, Camilla and the team have become an even more integral part of the school.
Formerly a milking parlour, the infamous Sanatorium (SAN) was the next progression in LWC’s healthcare and was used as an isolation hospital for infectious illnesses; a visit there was something to be dreaded. Iron beds lined the cold, sterile tiles, central heating was yet to be installed and the food was less than desirable! A visit from a doctor to give you some concoction you hoped would revive you, a weekly interaction with the Headmaster, doing the rounds and the care from the SAN Matron were the events that broke up the long days and oppressive quiet.
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