Florence Thomas (surgeon)
Florence M. S. Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Florence Margaret Sarah Price December 30, 1879 |
| Died | March 3, 1957 (aged 77) |
Florence Margaret Sarah Thomas (née Price; 30 December 1879 – 3 March 1957) was a Welsh ophthalmic surgeon and the first woman to join the medical staff at Swansea Hospital.[1]
Early life and education
Florence Price was born in Treorchy in Glamorgan to Rees Griffiths Price and Elizabeth Mathias.[2] She was brought up in Carmarthen,[1] where her father worked as a general practitioner.[2] She had two brothers, who were both doctors: Ernest Price and Alfred Price.[2] Her sister, Emily Price, worked with their father as a qualified dispenser.[3]
Florence Price attended the University of Edinburgh for the degrees of M.B. and Ch.B. graduating in 1904.[4]
Career
Florence Price was appointed house physician to Swansea Hospital in 1904.[5] She was the first woman to join the staff,[1] and, the following year, "the experiment of having a lady doctor" was considered "the most unqualified success".[6] She continued working as a house physician and ophthalmic assistant and was appointed bacteriological assistant.[7][8][9][10] She was described as having "unfailing attention to her duties and her kindness to the patients".[10]
Despite retiring from her position after marrying Francis Thomas in 1908, Florence Thomas returned to medical service during World War I and continued working while raising her family.[11] She was one of only 533 women physicians in Great Britain in 1912.[1]
Florence Thomas practised medicine for forty years, eventually becoming an ophthalmic surgeon at Port Talbot Hospital.[1]
Personal life
Florence Price married Francis Griffith Thomas on 19th Apr 1908 at St Peter's Church, Carmarthen.[12] Francis Thomas also worked as an ophthalmologist at Swansea Hospital.[13] They had four children, including Francis Brian Thomas F.R.C.S, an orthopaedic surgeon.[14]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Florence Price". Narberth Museum: Women of West Wales. 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
- 1 2 3 "Obituary". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1913-12-05. p. 5.
- ↑ "Death of Miss Price, Carmarthen". The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser. 1909-02-05. p. 5.
- ↑ "Supplement". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1904-07-08. p. 1.
- ↑ "Local Intelligence". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1904-12-30. p. 2.
- ↑ "Lady Doctor's Success at Swansea". Evening Express. 1905-12-21. p. 2.
- ↑ "Proposed Lady Bacteriologist for Swansea Hospital". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1907-12-27. p. 3.
- ↑ "Bacteriological Study". Evening Express. 1908-02-02. p. 4.
- ↑ "Swansea Hospital: Lady Doctor Re-appointed". The Cambrian. 1905-12-29. p. 7.
- 1 2 "Swansea Hospital Staff". The Cambrian. 1906-11-30. p. 5.
- ↑ "Report of the Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism" (PDF). Swansea Council. 2021-03-18. pp. 18–19.
- ↑ "Marriage of Dr. Florence Price, Carmarthen". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1908-05-01. p. 3.
- ↑ "Pretty Cardiff Wedding". Evening Express. 1908-04-30. p. 4.
- ↑ "Thomas, Francis Brian (1910 - 1982)". Plarr's Lives of the Fellows. Royal College of Surgeons of England. RCS: E006992.