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quote:
Has G.A. suddenly become dangerous ? Or has it always been that way.
John
It's always been that way. But just as greater precautions are taken in other aspects of life - seat belts in cars, police checks on people working with children and so on - so the medical profession is getting more cautious about the use of GA. And the public is getting more litigation happy - so of course, everyone plays safe!
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I wrote Grundy's obituary when a reporter for the Evening Post. He was sruck off twice, the first time for cheating the NHS by charging for the services of an anaethetist while doing it himself, the second time for being found semi-conscious on the floor. Yes he was adicted to the gas!
I also remember his fleet of cars - a Bentley, A Jaguar, a Ford Zodiac and a small Fiat runabout with the registration numbers GRU 21, GRU 22, GRU 23 and GRU 24 which he kept in a specially-built garage behind the surgery. I think the building's still there.
Incidentally his will left his entire fortune (quite a lot as I remember)to his chief nurse ON CONDITION that she didn't wear make-up or jewellery or o out with ment for at least 5 years.
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I wonder if she did keep away from men for 5 years.It would be interesting to hear the ending to that tale.
Incidentally the spirit of Grundy is alive and well in NZ.
Have just had a huge molar removed which was causing me grief.The dentist couldn't believe the way it was cobbled together with what looked like a rusty pin.He took great delight in showing it to me.
And what's more I clearly remember the particularly painful experience of that filling which was in 1946.
At least it stood the test of time I suppose.
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quote:
Originally posted by dampslad
I wrote Grundy's obituary
So Grundy is filling his last cavity?
(OK, OK, I can hear your groans from here...... sorry, but couldn't resist!)[:o)]
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Hi Vanessa, I too was a Grundy patient, and in the annual holidays got toothache.Living in Chorley then I found all the dentists were on holiday, except one. Once inside I wondered whether to "do a runner", antique was not the word. The dentist, a Mr.Kettle looked about 90 and had his wife as his nurse, also very old. I finished up with half a tooth broken off and a dentist saying "Sorry, I can`t do anything with it" I didn`t have to pay and right away went on my bike to Wigan in agony. The first dentist I saw let me in and was aghast, he gave me a cup of tea and a piece of cake (sympathy?) and took all details he could. He took out the remains of the root and sent me away, refusing payment. I have the legacy today of Mr,Kettle. But I also have a very dentist, bless you John!! So you see, there was more than one Grundy type. Regards Bill.
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Sorry for typing error, I should have said I had a very GOOD dentist now.Cheers, Bill.
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We were never Grundy's patients. I think someone had died in the chair in his surgery and my mother wouldn't allow us to go there. We went to Proctor's in Preston (next to the Gaumont) instead.
But I did once go to Grundy's to give moral support to a school friend, John Birchall, and what I saw was later confirmed by my sister-in-law who worked there.
Under the receptionist's counter were three buttons operating electric locks. The first was pressed when you rang the doorbell to release the front door.
Patients presented their appointment book for checking, after which the receptionist pressed the second button, unlocking the waiting room door. This closed automatically behind you, locking itself. But there was no handle on the other side of the door anyway.
Once in the waiting room, a patient had to leave by the door at the far end, which led to a hall(hexagonal, I think) off which were the surgeries.
There was a corridor leading back to reception from this hall, but there was a third locked door at the end of it, next to the hatch where you had to pay for your treatment. Only when you'd done so was that door opened and you could leave.
I also heard that after the NHS came in and paid dentists "piece work" rates for treatment, Grundy designed and had built a chair on rails with three or four cupboards alongside, each filled with separate sets of the necessary equipment for extractions. This way, he could speed up the system by pushing the chair back to the next equipped cupboard between patients while the nurse re-euipped the used cupboard. He got through dozens of patients in a day, and made a mint!
Colin Damp
Plymouth
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All those locked doors would never get past a health and safety inspection these days - how would all the patients get out in the event of a fire? Crafty way of ensuring payment though - all general practice dentists have their share of bad debtors!
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Grundy was a ....... i wont say it as i am new here, it took me 20 years a lot of time and effort to finaly get my teeth right. My dentist now is great she has restored my confidence and now i dont mind going.
] I hate attending the dentist, still have a fear today (thanks to Mr Grundy)he used to strap you in the chair and thought he was being kind when he gave you a Gollywog (I know its not politically correct but what else do you call them?) to hold! I do have one fond memory of the place though, the garden was lovely and I always liked to stop and look at the fish in the pond, shame they got rid of that.