Unique collection of medical antiques donated

A unique collection of antique medical equipment and books that used to belong to a Bourne doctor has been donated to Bourne Civic Society as part of the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

Dr Rebecca Mitchell, a GP at the Galletly Practice in Bourne, said the equipment used to belong to the late Dr John Galletly.

“The Galletly Practice was named after its founding GPs, Dr John Galletly and his son Alistair,” said Rebecca.

“The Galletly’s house was also the doctor’s surgery from the early 1900s until the early 1970s.

“For the following 20 years, the practice was based at the Health Centre on St Gilbert’s Road, but in 1996 the practice returned home with the purchase and development of the original doctor’s house at 40 North Road.”

Rebecca said the equipment was kept in a storeroom at the practice that used to serve as Dr Galletly’s consulting room.

“The equipment was used by Dr Galletly and his colleagues but remained out of sight,” she said.

“We wanted to keep it locally and considered displaying it here but worried that patients visiting the practice often don’t feel well and would prefer to see it displayed more appropriately.”

A decision was made to donate it to Bourne Civic Society, which manages a heritage centre and museum at Baldock’s Mill that features a gallery of Bourne’s history and heritage.

The donation also forms part of the 70th anniversary of the NHS next

Thursday.

Rebecca said the equipment was probably worth “quite a bit” and included items such as forceps used for delivering babies, Dr Galletly’s old medical bag, surgical equipment, stethoscopes, syringes and insulin devices and a log containing information on war time patients.

Brenda Jones, from Bourne Civic Society, welcomed the donation, but said it would take some time before it went on display to the public.

“It’s a fantastic donation and we appreciate it very much, but we’re going to have to spend some time going through it all as there really is a lot,” she said.