Gladys Maud Sandes

alt=This image shows the London Lock Hospital from the street in the late 18th century. It is a red brick building in the Georgian style on a busy street. The London Lock Hospital, shown shortly after its establishment in 1747, was the first voluntary venereal disease clinic in Britain. Gladys Sandes became the first female surgeon at the hospital in 1925. Gladys Maud Sandes Alston (5 November 1897 – 17 January 1968) was an Irish surgeon and venereologist and the first woman surgeon at the London Lock Hospital in 1925. Inspired by Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, she became an active member of the medical community and published widely on venereal diseases like syphilis and the treatment of children after sexual assault.

Life Sandes was born in Dublin on 5 November 1897. Her family later relocated to London, where attended Wimbledon High School. As her career progressed, she was elected to consultant posts at Queen Mary's Hospital in Carshalton, the Mother's Hospital in London, and the London Lock Hospital. According to her obituary, she 'greatly prized' her position at the Lock Hospital - although the institution was closed after changes brought in by the foundation of the National Health Service.

Sandes was very active in medical organisations and societies, including the Royal Society of Medicine and the British Medical Association. From 1955 to 1957 she was chairman of the Marylebone Branch of the BMA. She was profoundly affected by her early professional experiences at the London Lock Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. She dedicated her life to the treatment of venereal diseases, particularly in women and children. She had hoped to found a postgraduate institute for venereology at the London Lock Hospital, although this plan was disrupted by its closure. Prevailing belief at the time was the all venereal disease would be eradicated by antibiotics, and the hospital was provisioned by the new NHS for other purposes. It was also believed that women doctors and surgeons were particularly well placed to treat female patients with often stigmatised sexually transmitted diseases.

Personal interests Sandes is remembered as an enthusiastic traveller - visiting the United States, Russia, South African and many European countries. at the Royal College of Physicians.