.. Surgery ..
Early in 1941 the first industrial Nurse was appointed at Grange Works, and when shown where she was expected to carry out her duties - a corner in the Factory garage - despair seized her. Although the corner was partitioned off' from the main garage, dust was everywhere and it was extremely cold. There were no stores, but by the end of a bewildering week, enough necessities had been acquired to carry out general First Aid. What a contrast to the clean order of the Hospital casualty Department which the Nurse had but just left . Promises f o r improvement, however, were many - blue prints of the proposed Surgery shown, and unexpected kindness from strangers helped much in those dark days, There war a glimmer of hope, and anyway Spring was just around the corner.
In June 1941, the Nurse was sent to Great King Street for a few weeks to be 'industrially educated'. Much help and encouragement were given, and she returned to Cwmbran with lists, rules, standing orders, and an object to achieve. The new Surgery was now completed. Two more Nurses were engaged, new equipment was being delivered, and best of all a part-time Medical Officer was appointed.
In the dark years of 1942 and 1943, the production drive was reaching its peak. The hours were long and tedious, and the strain was beginning to show in the jaded faces of the workers. One saw in the Shops men grown suddenly thin, and those coming off the night shifts looked tired and grey. -The young men were called up, and the women grew hardier, The labour being taken, on was almost entirely inexperienced, and minor casualties seemed for ever on the increase. In the Surgery, it developed to an endless round of pleading with the employees to take cod-liver oil ; to get more sleep; to use Sterno-cleanse; to report every accident.
The Nursing Staff - a small part of the Factory - learned that industrial or preventative medicine could be as absorbing and satisfying as curative medicine.
Still the Factory grew and the Medical Department grew with it. Six State Registered Nurses were now employed, ,and in 1944 the Doctor was appointed full-time Medical Officer.
During this year - 1944 - five of the Nurses obtained the Industrial Nursing Certificate of the Royal College of Nursing.
News was improving on the War front. The Factory workers shared in that victory, and hope sprang anew in the heart of the
Nation.
1945 brought Victory and respite for the people.
The Nurse in industry had justified herself, and has made herself an integral part of Factory life. As a Nation we are beginning to realise how great a responsibility is the health of our people, and industrial medical practice must be recognised as an important link in the Public Health services.