Now Walks Like Others :
How were poor crippled children treated in England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries before the advent of free healthcare through the NHS and the Welfare State?
The Northampton Crippled Childrens’ Fund, (1893-1925) provided medical care for ‘poor crippled children in straightened circumstances under 17 years of age’ initially in Northampton and eventually county wide. It also gave long term dietary supplementation and summer seaside holidays. It had wide community support. In its final year before being able to open the Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital it treated 3000 children. Using the extensive archival records a group of Northampton children, recreate and assess its work.
Written and Directed by Professor Andrew N Williams PhD FRHistS consultant community paediatrician and curator of Archive, Northampton General Hospital.
A DVD copy of the film has been donated to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health archives for reference and forms part of an abstract submission by the owner to the RCPCH Conference 2019.