Happy Days At St.Helier Hospital
A Nurse's tale
By Maureen Arnold
St. Helier Hospital Nurses Training School October 1958. Maureen Arnold 2nd left at the back.
Donated by Maureen Arnold
I came to St. Helier from Dorset in 1958. The hospital was still painted black then, camouflaged from the war and not very welcoming on a gloomy October day. Thirty of us started our training that day and we soon got to know one another as we had to live in Ferguson House, the nurses' home. We had three meals a day and you could have breakfast brought to your room on your day off which we thought was very grand. We had to be in by 10.30 pm unless you were granted a late pass and no male visitors could go past the ground floor!!
We spent the first three months in the school before we were allocated our first ward. I went to the children's ward first which was on F3. This meant going underground which was quite daunting until you got used to all the tunnels, but we didn't have to go outside to any of the wards except the isolation ward, which was very good especially when you were on night duty.
We worked a 48-hour week and often had to do split shifts. You stayed on duty till the work was finished and never thought of overtime. Night duty was worked in three month blocks which I liked as you could work ten nights and get five off which meant I could go home if I had enough money.
We enjoyed living on the St. Helier estate and got to know the stall holders at Rose Hill who would give us the odd bargain. We sometimes went to social events at St. Peter's Church. They used to put on very good shows which we enjoyed.
I loved my training and my year as a staff nurse and am very proud of my St. Helier badge.
I spent my whole working life at St.Helier and have very happy memories of the patients I nursed and the doctors, nurses and hospital staff I worked with.
*St. Helier Group of Hospitals.
St. Helier Hospital, Carshalton, Surrey (862 beds). There are vacancies in the Nursing School of this Hospital. Students enter in January, April, July or October. The Hospital is a modern one within easy reach of both London and the beauty spots of Surrey. The 'Block System' of training has been in operation since the opening of the Hospital, which is also recognized by The Central Midwives Board as a Part 1 Training School. Student Nurses are paid a Training Allowance of £200 for the first year, £210 for the second year, plus £5 bonus after passing the Preliminary State Examination and £225 for the third year. Of this £100 will be payable to St. Helier Hospital for board and lodging. They will receive medical attention and the use of uniform. Forms of application and other particulars can be obtained from Matron room T1 who will be pleased to arrange interviews with girls and their parents.