Port Talbot General Hospital records

The collection comprises admissions registers, department admission registers, ward report books, road traffic accident report books, casualty dressing books, mortuary removal registers, operation registers, operation books, consultants books, staff registers, and some financial records. The collection also includes patient registers from Aberavon Hospital and Margam Cottage Hospital.

Port Talbot and District General Hospital first opened on 1st February 1916. It started as a voluntary hospital maintained by voluntary subscriptions, until 1948 when the National Health Service was established. The movement to set up the hospital was started by Rhys Davies, the Mayor of Aberavon, who held some public meetings to gather support. Fundraising took place to generate money for the hospital's set up and meetings were held at various works to enlist the support of employers and employees. Two large donations of not less than £1000 were received by the fund from Sir Sydney Byass, on behalf of Mansel Tinplate Works and Sir Charles Wright on behalf of Port Talbot Steel Works. Employees from these works also donated a £1 a head. The hospital was erected on a site donated by Colonel Sir Arthur Pendarvis Vivian and opened in 1916 with eighteen beds and four cots. The hospital took over a cottage hospital a few years later in order to create more accommodation. By 1927 Aberavon Hospital and Margam Cottage Hospital had amalgamated with Port Talbot and District General Hospital. In 1928 two wards were added to the hospital, increasing the accommodation capacity to fifty-two beds. As a memorial to Sir Sydney Byass a children's ward and additional bedrooms for staff were added in 1931. In December 2002 Port Tabot General and Neath General Hospitals merged and moved to the new Neath Port Talbot Hospital site.

The records were not found in any particular order, and in some cases it was difficult to establish the creating department. The records have therefore been arranged by function.

No restrictions

A hard copy is available at the West Glamorgan Archive Service

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records received by the West Glamorgan Archive Service have been retained. The most significant

record series were identified and taken in their entirety from the hospital.

Accruals are not expected.