Blitz Hospital: True Stories of Nursing in Wartime London

by Penny Starns

When the Blitz hit London, everything changed. Once, the Home Front was relatively safe – now it wasn't. Suddenly, London was its own front line. Blitz Hospital follows the fortunes of two major London hospitals as they struggled to cope with mounting wartime St Thomas' and The London. The diaries, letters and reports of medical and nursing staff highlight the many human stories of tremendous courage and hope that lived and breathed within the corridors of London's hospitals during the Blitz.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ebooks

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2018

Reviews

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, Blitz Hospital was not an easy read for me. There some heavy real-life accounts of bombings and raids with photos included. It was an interesting read, as nursing during the Second World War is one of my interests. The writing style was easy to connect to. I look forward to doing some wider historical reading soon!

[❀⊱RoryReads⊰❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

[Victoria Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores the development in nursing from beginning of 20th Century based around two main London hospitals, The London Chest Hospital and St. Thomas’ although other London hospitals are mentioned during the Blitz and to the end of the Second World War. Personal memories of four nurses is illuminating and heartfelt. Poignant inserts of life and death during the Blitz and the effect of the V1 and V2 rockets gives awareness of the struggle of everyday life during this period in our history.
As a nurse, the same themes are still true today, staff shortage, pay, recruitment so, not much change in 70 years

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book is slightly misleading as it doesn’t only deal with the experience of nursing in hospitals during the London Blitz and when the V1 and V2 rockets were aimed at the city, but also examines the way nursing status was regarded by the state and the difficulties that ensued from that, both during and after the war. Most interesting were the accounts of bombing raids, the absurd restrictions applied to nurses and, most of all, extracts from four nurses’ wartime diaries, two from St Thomas’ and two from The London. The way the hospital dealt with bomb damage and keeping patients safe was also interesting - I’d like to have read more about how victims were nursed. The political shenanigans I found less engaging. Themes common to today’s nhs were shortage of staff, pay and the status of nurses.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fact based book of WWII

If you are interested in WWII and the part London hospitals played in the blitz you will find this book fascinating. The true stories of London lived and how they coped in the blitz is truly see inspiring. Penny Starns captured my imagination with the factual details and research.

[Nicola Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last summer I enjoyed Debororah Burrows Ambulance girls. Blitz hospital was going back to some of the source material.My grandmother trained in London between the wars and was called back to work to help the war effort.
It is very difficult for us to comprehend the hours, effort and sights they had to endure but a useful reminder to us how life has improved.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book following nurses through the London Blitz during WW2 this book covers St Thomas's hospital and other London hospitals. well worth a ready if you are interested in WW2 or nursing or like me Both.

[Tiffany Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant memoir. Very honest about the horrors of the Blitz. The bravery of the Civilians and nurses alike. I would highly recommend this book.

[Georgina Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and easy to read. You get a real understanding of what they feel and context from the war progress and politics. I loved reading it.

[Caron Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read, what's awful to say we are 80 years on, is that many things stand true today in the way nurses are viewed and treated.

[Dawn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy book to read as it takes you through the development of nursing as a career, and the 4 real nurses who are a the heart of the book.