Funny Days At Work
As a young girl I went to do my training at a big public hospital. It was wartime and lots of
bombing meant many casualties.
I was on the male surgical ward. Rules were very strict and we were told not to get too familiar
with the male patients or Matron would punish us.
One young fireman was badly injured. As I was tending to him he asked me to marry him when
he was better. “Shush or you will get me into trouble.” The chap in the next bed said “That’s
what he wants to do, nurse!” Laughter all around. It was very embarrassing!
In later years I was the practice nurse at a doctor’s surgery. Many patients were visiting
specialists and with many patients on the books. They came from two towns and all the
surrounding villages.
Having lived in a local village and having worked in a local hospital I knew many of my patients
and they were all so friendly. When they came for their treatment the older men would often
put their arms around me and give me a big kiss and thanks. One patient said “The injection
doesn’t hurt but by God her hands are cold!”
My surgery was built in Tudor times and was called “The Old Dispensary”. One day I was
working in my room when there was the sound of a large crack and the floor gave way where
I was standing. I fell through the floor. I grabbed at a stretcher. I was able to hang on with my
legs hanging through the floor! The receptionist came through the door. “Don’t come in”, I said
“but go next door where builders are working and get a ladder.” They put the ladder across the
floor and I was able to crawl out. Later one of the doctors commented “We have heard about
people going through the roof – but you have to be different and go through the floor!” I replied
“What about my ruined stockings and my grazed knees?” The only sympathy I got was “You’re
the nurse – you know how to treat grazed knees!”
Rose
A Story Circle Participant
A Thankyou
To all my friends at St. Margaret’s - my heartfelt thanks go to all who visited me both in Calvary
and at home, brought flowers, chocolates (a forbidden pleasure but very welcome!) sent and
brought cards and phoned many times to enquire about my progress during my hospital stay
(times two). I was very rarely without visitors and I was always delighted when each of you
came through the door with your lovely smiling faces, and often bearing gifts. Following my
second discharge from Calvary, with a PICC line (peripherally inserted central line) inserted into
the top of my right arm to deliver more efficiently the “industrial strength” antibiotics needed to
knock out the infection I seem to have acquired, I am improving slowly. Of course the personal
care, both practically and emotionally which I am receiving from my wonderful male nurse/carer/
chief cook and bottle washer/wheel chair pusher and loving husband is a primary positive factor
in my recovery.
And it was so good to be able to come to church on Mother’s Day and to worship with you all
(those of you who weren’t enjoying the delights of a Tasman Sea island) and to enjoy
conversations and catch up regarding people’s stories of daily activities.
Again, many thanks to you all. I really appreciate all that was done to make my hospital stays
a little more enjoyable. May God bless you and grant you His Peace.
With love and gratitude from Robyn Swadling-Rope - Monday 11 May 2015.
St Margaret's News
5
May 2015