Interview with Billy Norcliffe

Interview with Billy Norcliffe about his experiences as a tuberculosis (TB) patient in the early 1950s. Mentions he was living in Kaimata near Greymouth with his wife and two young children, building their house and working for the Electricity Department, when he developed TB. Talks about being in an isolation unit in Grey Hospital for about a month, then being sent to Cashmere for treatment. Refers to complete bedrest for several months and having a lung collapsed. Discusses how patients spent their time, and occupational therapy in the middle unit when he was recovering. Refers to being sent home after a few months, and continuing to have X-rays, tests for reinfection and management of the collapsded lung for a long time. Comments on the people who had rallied round to help his wife while he was sick. Discusses trying for a long time to get another job, always mentioning in his applications that the had had TB, and eventually getting a job at Addington which allowed him to move to a drier climate.

Interviewer(s) - Sue McCauley

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-012726

Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s) - printed. 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 interview(s).

Physical Description: Textual file - Microsoft word

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-4266, OHDL-000898.

Search dates: 1950 - 2001

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copy OHLC-008450

Both printed and digital versions of the transcript are available