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Sister Thomas's action undoubtedly averted a catastrophe. She showed great bravery and coolness in that she and all present believe that the cylinder might blow up at any moment. The Board expressed their very high appreciation of Sister Thomas and she was brought before the Board and congratulated
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On 26 January 1934, work commenced as normal and just prior to the first operation of the day the porter was preparing the oxygen cylinders in the anaesthetic room when an explosion occurred and the oxygen from the cylinder ignited sending flames up to 15 feet (4.6 m) into the main operating
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In 1938 Sister Thomas took over responsibility for two wards but later returned to operating theatre work as
Theatre Superintendent responsible for the management of all the theatres at the Middlesex Hospital as well as the nearby
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Despite what could have been a disaster, normal working was resumed within minutes of Sister Thomas's actions. The hospital board met on 31 January where the incident was discussed. The minutes of the meeting recorded:
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by the chairman. The
Secretary-Superintendent was instructed to ask Mr. Robert Hunter to approach the Prime Minister with a view to submitting a recommendation for some recognition of her action by the appropriate body.
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theatre. The theatre was immediately evacuated due to the risk of the cylinder exploding but Thomas remained behind and went into the anaesthetic room to remove the bottle of
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Later investigation concluded that the likely cause of the explosion was piece of grit in the valve which as the porter tightened the valve caused a spark.
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and holders of the EGM exchanged their medals for the new George Cross. In
February 1942 she attended Buckingham Palace to be awarded the George Cross by
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stored there. She then attempted to close the valve on the oxygen cylinder and found it would close so she did so thus preventing any explosion.
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before completing her training at the
Middlesex Hospital. Thomas remained at the Middlesex after training and became a
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Brave Nurse
Honoured – Pathe Gazette footage of King George V presenting the Empire Gallantry Medal to Sister Thomas
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The recommendation was duly made and on 2 March 1934 notice was published in
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during an official visit to the
Middlesex Hospital at the end of March.
105:(11 August 1905 – 22 November 1989) was a British nurse awarded the
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Plaque on John Astor House, Middlesex
Hospital, 3 Foley Street, W1
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to Sister Thomas. Rather than attend an investiture ceremony at
109:(EGM) for her actions preventing a major incident at the
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348:"Dorothy Louise Thomas – Foley Street, London, UK"
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184:Thomas was presented with the medal by
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137:. By 1929 she had been promoted to
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223:After retirement Thomas retired to
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227:where she died in 1989 aged 84.
234:at John Astor House in London.
176:on the immediate award of the
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312:. 2 March 1934. p. 1422.
121:Born in London but raised in
372:Hare-Scott, Kenneth (1951).
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127:Chelsea Hospital for Women
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381:Escott, Berly E (1999).
207:Soho Hospital for Women
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178:Empire Gallantry Medal
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145:Empire Gallantry Medal
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100:Dorothy Louise Thomas
29:Dorothy Louise Thomas
257:, pp. 131–133.
446:Nurses from London
309:The London Gazette
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111:Middlesex Hospital
335:Hare-Scott (1951)
323:Hare-Scott (1951)
291:Hare-Scott (1951)
279:Hare-Scott (1951)
255:Hare-Scott (1951)
182:Buckingham Palace
135:operating theatre
113:in January 1934.
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304:"No. 34029"
232:blue plaque
131:staff nurse
82:Nationality
420:Categories
389:. Sutton.
238:References
225:Chelmsford
123:Dovercourt
117:Early life
90:Occupation
74:Chelmsford
50:1905-08-11
366:Sources
133:in the
85:British
76:, Essex
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57:London
354:7 May
243:Notes
152:ether
93:Nurse
391:ISBN
356:2016
63:Died
44:Born
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103:GC
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