There was an early day motion
no. 341 submitted to parliament on the 12th September 2014 by Mike Crockart
about Dr. Elsie Inglis and the Scottish Women’s hospitals.
“That this
House celebrates the bravery, achievements and hard work of Dr Elsie Inglis and
the other women who set up and served in the Scottish Women’s Hospitals;
recognises that the Scottish Women’s Hospitals became one of the best medical
initiatives of World War One; acknowledges that these hospitals were set up
despite a severe lack of support from the British War Office; estimates that
the hospitals saved the lives of tens of thousands of people all in countries
such as Serbia, Belgium, France, Russia, Romania, Corsica, Corfu and Greece;
notes that the 14 women’s hospitals with a staff of over 1,000 women make up a
remarkable, yet unrecognised part of our history; further notes that whilst Dr
Inglis and the other women who served in these hospitals are recognised as
heroes in Serbia, their work and achievements are barely recognised in the UK
outside of Dr Inglis’ adopted home of Edinburgh; welcomes the proposal by
Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation to recognise the work of Dr Elsie
Inglis and her compatriots by establishing a training fund in the name of Dr
Elsie Inglis for staff to access courses which may not be available through NHS
Lothian; further recognises 16 August 2014 will be the 150th anniversary of the
birth of this medical pioneer, suffragist, and First World War heroine; and
strongly believes that during the centenary year of the outbreak of the First
World War, the work of the brave women who served in these hospitals should be
properly recognised and celebrated.”
