Nursing in the 70s Part 8 - Merry Christmas

During my three years nurse training I worked every Christmas day. Twice on days and once on nights. If anything could remind you that patient care was a twenty four hour, three hundred and sixty five day service it was Christmas.

Surgeons had the right idea. As most of their patients were booked, beds could be closed over the Christmas period. This left only the very poorly and those unlucky to have a burst appendix in the middle of the festivities.

On Cuckmere it meant only about six patients out of twenty five. The ward was decked out in Christmas decorations and a very fine tree was placed in the main ward area just in front of the toilets. On Christmas day the more poorly of our patients were made as comfortable and presentable as possible.

As well as the patent's families a host of local VIPs would descend upon us including the Mayor and his wife. Even more important was the local photographer. Pictures would be taken of the Mayor shaking hands with everyone, grateful patients, admiring nurses and anyone else with a hand.

Disaster did strike once during one one of these visits when the Mayor spotted one of our more elderly patients at the far end of the ward. Smiling he marched with wife towards old Jack

"No Mayor, please don't" Sister spluttered. It was too late. The Mayors outstretched hand was already reaching out to smiling Jack.

"Merry Christmas, old chap, I hope they are looking after you here."

Both of Jack's hands were under the sheets which had been hurriedly changed before the visit. The photographer stood by as Jack reached out from under the sheet and met the Mayors hand with his own but with the surprising addition of a large amount of faeces

"Merry Christmas to you too, sir, bless you" whispered Jack.

The commotion that followed was predicable and involved profuse apologies hot soapy water and smelling salts for the Mayoress. It was a long time before the Mayor would darken Cuckmere Ward again.

As for Christmas lunch this was served on the ward with the patients and staff together nurses, doctors, domestic staff and anyone else who was working that day. One of the Consultant surgeons would carve the turkey and like any other Christmas occasion gifts would be exchanged. It sounds like another world now and yet this was not that long ago. Occasions like this brought us closer as a team and I wonder if that is still the case now. Ah the mystery of Christmas.
Part 9