Posted by Owen Roberts on June 07, 2006 at 11:32:37 from 194.201.78.135 user OwenRoberts.
When Jim Brading left hospital in WDM he apparently left without paying. It was 1947/8 before the NHS was introduced in the UK, which gave the right to free medicine at the point of need.
Was there a system in the 1930’s to cover such emergencies – especially for unknown seamen who might be unlikely to pay?
I am surprised that Jim was in a room by himself rather than on a general ward, but the story would have been unlikely if he was on a ward and tried to leave inconspicuously.
Presumably when people phoned in on his behalf after he had left, the hospital would have been able to recoup their costs via the information they provided.