Nursing
Nurses have provided 24 hour care for every patient at Queen Mary’s since 1915
This silent animation (which plays as part of the permanent exhibition) explores how nurses’ roles have evolved since 1915, and how nurses’ unique relationships with patients contribute to the innovations they’ve been responsible for at the hospital.
Nurse’s memories were a significant proportion of those collected for the Archives and Museum Group’s oral history project. A selection of audio recordings is included below.
Selected audio recordings from our personal history collection
Recorded by members of the Queen Mary’s Hospital Archives and Museum Group
Reflections on care and nursing
Dorothy Morris
Dorothy began at Queen Mary’s in 1957. She worked as a Staff Nurse, Ward Sister and Nursing Officer.
Early days on the wards
Life as a Staff Nurse
Mum and dad are coming
Christmas carols
Life as a Ward Sister
Leslie Beck
Les Beck met his wife at Roehampton. He was a patient who had lost both his legs, she was working as a nursing auxiliary.
Secret trysts on the upper and lower decks of the number 72
Entertainment from the nurses – all strictly above board
Sir Ronald de Witt
At Queen Mary’s from 1972 to 1975 Ron worked as a Charge Nurse then a Nursing Officer. He was knighted in 2002 for services to nursing and the NHS.
A Registered Nurse on the wards
Taking charge as a Nursing Officer
Taking on more medical work
Life in the Rookery
Wendy Rockhill
Wendy worked at Queen Mary’s from 1970 to 1998, then from 2000 to 2003. Wendy was a Staff Nurse, Ward Sister, Nurse Manager and Assistant Director of Nursing.
An award-winning training film
Nursing innovations at Roehampton
Yvonne Franks
Yvonne was a Staff Nurse, Ward Sister and Clinical Nurse Specialist in Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at Roehampton.
