Mary is an amazing nurse who at our Celebration on Nursing Event in May held the record for the most years in nursing an amazing 48 years. We were all astounded by this and her passion and commitment.
Marys favourite quote is by Nikos Kazantzakis the Cretan Writer & Philosopher: ‘In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can. I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free. Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality’.
Here is her story. My nursing career came as a result of wanting to work in either a medicine or nursing career as a teenager after my mother spent over one year in hospital when I was two years old with the complications from bacterial meningitis. The care she received from the NHS allowed her to recover against all medical odds and go on to live an inspiring and fulfilling life until 91.
Southampton College of Technology to study on a Pre Nursing Course. This involved work placement at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Sick Children in Surrey which was my first experience in working with babies and children many of whom were terminally ill.
On completion of college I later started my General Nursing career back in Dorset in May 1970 as an Enrolled Nurse training at Christchurch Hospital and The Royal Victoria Hospital Bournemouth returning to RVH and then Christchurch as a trained nurse: working in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical. In 1979 I managed to work part - time at RAF Sopley under the ‘British Council for Refugees’ with the Vietnamese ’Boat People’ assisting with the medical assessments alongside my NHS job. At times it was difficult as the Vietnam War ended in 1975 and I had been an activist against the war and here I was working with both North and South Vietnamese who were struggling with the trauma of war plus their antipathy towards each other for very compelling reasons. Some of them remain family friends to date.
I worked at Lymington Hospital in the early 1980’s involving A&E, Men’s Medical with Coronary Care facility, Surgical. Hampshire NHS allowed me at this point to join a Territorial Army Specialist Medic Unit, 304 Field Hospital RAMC (V) who were fully signed up to allowing me ‘Special Leave’ to attend basic training and annual camps both within the UK , Belgium and Germany. Employed in the Queen Alexandra Nursing Corps (V) as a Combat Medical Technician in a field hospital operating theatre. Progressed through the ranks from Private to Staff Sergeant working alongside my regular army colleagues.
In 1990 I undertook voluntary training as a helpline worker with Dorset Community HIV/ AIDS support part funded by Dorset Healthcare NHS which involved teaching / supporting families and patients which with the support of other local voluntary agencies eventually led to Bournemouth’s first HIV / AIDS hospice ‘Sanctuary’ being commissioned.
It was at this stage I decided to convert to RGN and embarked on what was to eventually the turning point in my nursing career. Conversion meant placements at Princess Ann Midwifery, Trauma Orthopaedics at SGH and finally the Dept. of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants, GUM Clinic RSH. My psychiatric placement opened up my eyes to the inconsistencies between General and Psychiatric Nursing at the time in particular towards people who present to A& E in acute mental distress / admitted to general wards. This allowed me visits to Parkhurst, Winchester and Holloway HMP’s which focussed my attention to how the UK manages people who present with complex mental health needs.
Following my RGN conversion I returned to Lymington Hospital which included facing the challenges along with my colleagues of managing effective palliative care of the dying on an acute medical ward. 1996: I left Hampshire NHS and returned to Dorset to undertake another conversion to RMN at Bournemouth University with placement s in Acute, Addictions and Forensic. Intensive Psychological Services - ending with a 5 week residential placement at Broadmoor Hospital in Berks.
On completion of my Mental Health qualification I then worked in Forensic secure at St Ann’s Hospital and after gaining valuable experience in acute left to go out into the community and joined the Addictions Team at The Sedman Unit with secondments to the Unit Back to Forensic at St Ann’s / Addictions and Community Drugs & Alcohol Team / Community De -Tox Team / Methadone Clinic. Attended Dorset NHS Healthcare two week middle management course which led to my next move into Child & Adolescent Mental Health at the Maple Service as a CAMHS Nurse Therapist following my army commission to 306 Field Hospital RAMC (V).
Now aged 50 I was accepted for TA Entry Officer’s Course at Sandhurst Military Academy and RAMC Keogh Barracks Aldershot December 2000 and deployed on Ex Saif Sarea 11 to Oman shortly after 9/11. I was able to use my general and mental health skills on a ‘no duff’ exercise involving 54.000 tri - service personal with my NHS and 22 Fd Hospital regular army colleagues. My years at the Maple Service providing Intensive psychological support to young people then changed to Crisis Worker with the newly formed Crisis Intervention Home Treatment Team, working in both East and West Dorset. With the demise of CIHT I am now working at CAMHS East Team in a crisis nurse practitioner role. The NHS allowed me to undertake TRIM (Trauma Risk Management) training with the Royal Marines / Navy at CTCRM Lympstone also adopted by Dorset Fire & Rescue Service.
I resigned my commission in 2005. I have long worked with dedicated, motivated, and caring staff at Dorset Healthcare and remain privileged to have done do.
The NHS has come a long way and continues to offer opportunities for all – it needs our support.