Shropshire Routes to Roots

3. Robert Jones

Introduction

In 1903 the hip disease which had plagued her for much of her life had progressed to such a point that Agnes Hunt was barely able to walk.
She went to see a surgeon in Liverpool, Mr Robert Jones. From this meeting a firm friendship developed which lasted for 30 years. Not only did he operate on her hip but she invited him to visit Baschurch and see the effects of fresh air and happiness on the children in her care. He was from that point as committed as she to her cause.

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Larger image, in a new window [43kb] [Reproduced with kind permission of "Healing and Hope" c/o Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital]	Initially he agreed for her to bring children to him once a month for treatment. But later seeing the problems of transporting these sick children to Liverpool he became honorary surgeon travelling to Baschurch. This was a significant change of direction. Florence House was no longer a convalescent home; it was now a treatment centre.
The operating theatre at Baschurch Larger image, in a new window [28kb] [Reproduced with kind permission of "Healing and Hope" c/o Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital]	In 1904 there was no theatre at Baschurch so they used the dining room, removing all the furniture and using the fish kettle for sterilising equipment. By 1907 they had raised £249 and built an operating theatre, seen here. The sum raised not only paid for the theatre, but also for equipment, a sterilisng room and post operative ward!

What other changes were needed to turn a convalescent home into a hospital?

The hospital was an early user of X-rays. These were discovered by Wilhelm Rontgen a German scientist in 1895. Apparatus was installed at the hospital in 1913, and was crucial in the treatment of shrapnel and bullet injuries during the First World War.

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