Recently Papworth has been more associated with cardiothoracic services. However, before the First World War tuberculosis was considered a threat to national efficiency as it killed people during their most ‘working productive’ years.
Social pioneer and physician Sir Pendrill Varrier-Jones founded the Cambridgeshire Tuberculosis Colony in direct response to this national concern. Following research at Cambridge University, Varrier-Jones theorized that alongside treatment, a nourishing diet alongside copious amounts of fresh air was the most effective way to combat the disease.
This theory led to the founding of the Papworth Village Settlement. Papworth helped patients with long-term treatment of the disease. Patients had access to financial support and paid work resulting in the successful ‘Papworth Industries’, which continued into the late 1950s. These ideals encompassed the ethos Varrier-Jones purported of supporting people back into independent living and rehabilitation.
Varrier-Jones sought to establish a working community rather than simply a hospital.
The newly formed NHS inherited Papworth Hospital in 1948, and the hospital’s medical emphasis has since shifted. Nowadays it has established a reputation for pioneering thoracic surgery, cardiac surgery, cardiology and respiratory medicine.
Papworth has left an extensive documentary legacy, of papers, publications, photographs, cine film, and in the experiences of those who have lived through and been involved in these developments.
Cambridgeshire Archives Service established the Papworth Archives Project with funding from the Wellcome Trust to deal with the extensive documentary heritage. For a more inormation go to the Papworth Project.