8. A spoonful of .... helps the medicine go down !

Most of the initiation rituals carried out on junior student nurses by more experienced student nurses that I remember were of a psychological rather than a physical nature.

One of the most common practical jokes played on new student nurses - during day-light hours for obvious reasons - was for a more senior nurse to send a gullible PTS (Preliminary Training School) nurse off the ward to the Path. Lab. with instructions to return with "a pair of Fallopian Tubes". Since fallopian tubes are normally only ever found inside the human body or at worse - pickled within a laboratory specimen jar - the embarassed novice usually returned to her ward with nothing more than a red face!

But even at night one or two bright sparks could always be relied upon to conduct ritualised practical jokes that were aimed at putting more junior students 'in their place'. I particularly remember a couple of daring or bored 2nd or 3rd Year student nurses ringing up 1st Year students ("novice night nurses") via the internal telephone system and playing tricks.

On one occasion one of these rogue nurses played a prank on me and mimicking the voice of Mrs Forbes, the Night Nursing Superintendant this imposter asked me - when I was next passing her office in the Admin. Block (on my way to my next meal break) - not to forget to leave a cup of sugar on her desk because she had "run out of sugar" for her tea breaks. "If I am not there when you get there because I am out on my rounds", said the voice, just push "just open the door and leave the sugar on my desk please".

I was obviously very naive and in my eagerness to please her I dutifully carried a cup of sugar through the night and along one of the main hospital corridors until I reached her base. But then you on pushing open her office door perhaps you can imagine how surprised I was at the conclusion of this very important mission to find a dozen or more other cups of sugar sitting ceremoniously on her desk.

Thus I was once again embarassed at having been taken for a ride and I was humbly put back into my role and position as a very junior nurse in the hierachical scheme of things.

In passing, Susan Walker (née Forbes), Mrs Forbes' daughter was in touch with the Nurse's League leadership recently to report that Lilian died in July 2005 at age of 93yrs. She apparently spent the last few years of her life in a Care Home in Darlington, North Yorks, entirely content with her contribution to nursing and with lots of memories of her time in Dartford and at JGH.

And now ... a question for YOU. What initiation rituals can you recall relating to your acceptance into your role or job within JGH ? Were there non-nursing orientated rituals which took place within JG that we nurses knew nothing of ? Look forward to hearing from you.

7. Two people who made me think.

Many people helped to turn me from a very green 18 yr old recruit into a qualified nurse via my SRN training course - at JG. But if I had to pick out a couple of nurses who were more influential than others and who particularly helped to shape my professional thinking and development I would have to name Mr Walker, one of the Nurse Tutors in my time and Stan Burroughs, an Assistant Matron (who was reponsible for the Care of the Elderly wards during this period).

So what made them so memorable and what 'extra' dimension did they add in shaping my development? Well both of them were successful ... in pushing me to think beyond the theoretical tuition that I was receiving at the time. How? Both of them used a "Yes ... but what if ... " approach to analysing care situations.

In a classroom session on intravenous rehydration I shall never forget Mr Walker taking us (as a group of studsents) further on, beyond the use of pre-packed "IV giving" equipment and commercially prepared IV solutions and challenging us to consider how we would physically produce a normal saline solution in a setting where ready-made equipment and solutions were not available. He challenged us, for example, to understand WHAT normal saline was and to become aware of how a sterile solution could be produced in an unconventional setting if it became necessary to produce such a solution for a patient as a matter of urgency in a non-hospital setting. I remember his challenging remark "You are being trained here as to function as a State Registered Nurse but you may not always find yourself working within the comfort of a safe NHS environment".

Similarly, but this time in a ward setting, I can remember Stan Burroughs, challenging me to consider ways in which nursing techniques and procedures could be safely adapted in order to achieve the desired goal AND simultaneously tweaked to make the whole process shorter and/or more comfortable for the patient. During nursing procedures, e.g. as in the passing of a naso-gastric tube or a urinary catheter I remember him deliberately making me think about whether there was "any way in which we could re-position the patient in order to achieve a quicker or smoother result" for the patient?

"Remember David", he used to say, "this patient is probably already feeling pretty awful or frightened or both and so what we need to aim to do is adapt our techniques where necessary in order to achieve a good result a bit more quickly". "And at the end of the day", he used to say, "the patient will 'thank you' for this extra bit of consideration".

So there you have a short account of two very professional nurses who inspired me to think that bit further and who helped me to think about meeting patients needs "beyond the basics".

6. Memories are made of this.

Do you remember the song “Memories are made of this” which was made famous by Dean Martin?

I particularly I like another line in the same song that runs: “Stir caref’lly thru the days”. Why? Perhaps because it seems to flag-up a way forward for considering the past, which - after all - is what we are aiming at here.

If you can spare a minute now, think about the rich deposit of memories that exists amongst us concerning Joyce Green Hospital’s long life. It’s these I hope we'll be able to tap into soon.

Of course some pretty impressive Joyce-Green-related websites already exist plus at least one very good, very well illustrated book on Joyce Green (and her sister hospitals) but what we are really missing at present are accounts of some of the things that actually happened within the hospital during its long life.

If you worked there, visited the hospital, or were associated with the hospital you will have lots of memories of Joyce Green’s everyday life. Interesting memories, exciting memories, memories of everyday happenings, memories sometimes tinged with sadness …. but memories that stand to be forgotten or overlooked, never to see the light of day again unless - between us - we strive to record them somewhere …to write them down in order to preserve them for future generations.

How, for example, will those coming along behind us be able to find out about the life which was played out at Joyce Green, the way it functioned, the challenges it faced, the life it breathed …. unless we who knew her rise up to the challenge of recollecting and storing some of these precious, sometimes funny, sometimes sad stories?

Perhaps you have never thought of yourself as someone of importance in Joyce Green’s history - but think about it - if you have memories of Joyce Green you may have a lot to share which is of very great importance indeed.

For instance ...*Did you ever work at JGH over a Christmas period? What can you recall happening? *What about personalities that you remember from within the hospital? Why not tell us about them? *Do you remember anything strange or funny that occur during your period of contact with the hospital? Then please do tell us more about what you remember?

Leave a comment on this site or send me an e-mail, via careofu@hotmail.com , and let’s begin to put some living, breathing flesh onto the bare facts that already stand recorded. Will YOU consider helping me to get something down in writing about things that happened or about the way that things used to be? It would be really good to hear from you.

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5. Humble beginnings.

Discovered: a really interesting and relevant website.

A website that contains some fascinating material about JGH which is well worth checking out is www.workhouses.org.uk

Produced by Peter Higginbotham, it's a large site with many sections each of which will absolutely fascinate anyone with an interest in health-related social history. But if your time is limited here's the quickest route into the JGH part:

Get onto the www.workhouses.org.uk website and click on: The MAB sub-title in the list that you will find on the left hand side of the main webpage. This will reveal two further headings and if you click on the second of these entitled: MAB Institutions, you will then be able to double click on to: Joyce Green, Dartford to reveal an Aladdin's cave of pictures, plans and information on "Joyce's" pedigree.

If this visit to Peter's website is your first, prepare to be amazed.

Flying by the seat of my pants

Sorry, but .....

Congratulations to anyone who HAS managed to find this blogsite but also a word of apology to anyone who has tried to make a comment or add something but who hasn't found themselves able to do so. This is entirely my fault because I didn't realise that it was necessary to "enable" the reader's comment facility, i.e. to turn this part of the apparatus on ! But in my defence (if any is needed) I am completely new to blogging and so I am learning about it as I go along. However, enough said. It is sufficient now to say that this facility IS now turned on.

4. Websites worth visiting ?

WebsiteWonderland !

Have you often thought that you would like to read more of the web-material containing snippets of information about JGH but haven't had the time to track it down ? Or maybe you just haven't had the time to wade through the web-lists that your favourite search engine has produced ? Whatever the reason here are a few sites containing JGH-related items that you might want to look at sometime:

www.dartfordarchive.org.uk , www.howardstoate.labour.co.uk/viewPage and www.francisfrith.com/archive/kent/dartford

Enjoy browsing.

3.Still music in the air ... !

Do you remember Joyce Green Radio ?

Its lively, enjoyable and encouraging programmes? Its dedicated team of DJs and backroom personnel? Its interviews and stories ? Its music and jingles? It ran for 25 years between 1975 - 2000 and it almost goes without saying that it was a very sad day for many people when it eventually closed down after the transfer of patient services to the new Darent Valley Hospital.

But while there's life, there's hope

But for those of you with a great fondness for the old station ... or those readers who don't know much about hospital radio services and want to know more - help is at hand. This help comes courtesy of John E.Davies, one of the early members of RJG, who maintains the RJG website.

So, if you are interested, why not pay the website a visit? (Simply tap Radio Joyce Green into your search engine). Once there you can delve into its history, find pictures of many of its staff, listen to a some of the original jingles AND maybe use the site as a launch pad for getting into contact with some of the volunteers who ( ...believe it or not ...) are still encouraging patients in various hospital wards in the S.E. of England.

The change

In 2000 Radio Joyce Green closed and Valley Park Radio began to transmit across the new hospital site. The new hospital radio website address is www.valleyparkradio.org.uk and through it you can still make contact with volunteers who used to work within Radio Joyce Green and West Hill Radio.

John E. Davies, (the enthusiastic Radio JG website manager) now works with Meridian Radio which provides hospital radio services for the patients of the QE2 Hospital in Woolwich, South London. Their website address is www.meridianradio.co.uk .

To finish with

But what about us ending this posting with a word of thanks PLUS a question?

Firstly let's say a word of thanks to all hospital radio services volunteers everywhere (both past and present) for their very impressive work for patients. Many dispirited, lonely and pain-wracked people have much cause to be greatful to you all .... so a word of thanks to you - the volunteers - from all those who have benefited from your services.

Then secondly, let me suggest that there are many people 'out there' who have benefited directly (and had their spirits lifted) as a result of listening to JGR in days gone by ?

Action stations

So wouldn't it be great if someone contacted John directly or left word on this weblog about something good that happened to them as a result of being encouraged by Radio Joyce Green ?

Feel free then now to have a stab at re-connecting with one or two of your old JGH friends or colleagues via one of these hospital radio sites OR why not leave a message, a comment, some information or a memory here relating to the "old gal" (Joyce !) ?

2.Out now !

Latest edition of the "Nurse's League Journal" is out now.

Each year the Darttford District Hospital Nurse's League produces a journal for its members and perhaps some readers will be interested to know that copies of this magazine may still be available via Mrs Margaret King c/o margaret@king.2559.fs.co.uk .

So if you are interested in getting hold of a copy, don't leave it too long before you take some action because only limited numbers are printed each year. The cost of the journal, which is usually published following the Annual Reunion in October each year, is a around £2 plus a charge for despatch and postage.

One particularly useful part of the journal is that the names and contact details of many of the members are listed in its rear section and so these lists can be used as a launch pad for ex Joyce Greeners who want to contact friends and work colleagues from the past.

2008 will herald the League's "Ruby Anniversary" ...... so while you would probably enjoy meeting up with old friends and colleagues in October 2007, the Reunion in October 2008 is likely to be an even more special event.

For those interested in joining "The League" membership "is open to Registered and Enrolled Nurses who completed their training within the Dartford & Gravesham District Hospitals and/or the Community. In addition, associate membership is also open to nurses and midwives who have worked within these particular hospitals for two years or more".

1. The launch of the blogsite.

Welcome to the site !

Whether you have stumbled on this blogsite by accident or were deliberately looking for sites that are linked with Joyce Green Hospital (or even other Dartford hospitals) .... congratulations on reaching THIS one ! But what is this site about and who does it belong to ?

The purpose of the site ?
This site, which was unceremoniously launched on 14th October 2006, was set up to attract the comments, the views, the reminiscences and the questions of individuals who have any interest whatsoever in the former premises, the associated staff and users and the activities of (the now-demolished) Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford, Kent, England.

Who does it belong to ?

Well, it belongs to us, it's users and readers ... and so since you are reading it right now, it belongs - at least in part - to you. Thus in this case, it's YOU who are very welcome here today and I hope that you will enjoy your stop-over on the site.

Who has initiated this (hopefully) on-going project ?

I played a small part in Joyce Green's past and she (yes Joyce !) obviously played a part in my life too - or else I wouldn't be attempting to get this blogsite up and running.

My first contact with Joyce Green was when I was Cadet Nurse (a pre-Student Nurse) in 1964 when I was allocated to the Registry (which dealt with the admission of routine, "cold case" patients). Therefore since Joyce Green's history extends much, much further back than that, in the grand scheme of things I am a fairly "new kid on the block".

I began my 3 year training period as a Student Nurse within The Dartford School of Nursing in 1966, during which time I was based exclusively at JGH. After I qualified as an S.R.N (a State Registered Nurse) I worked as a Staff Nurse at the hospital for about 6mths and then I left the hospital and joined the staff of West Hill Hospital, Dartford.

There I undertook an Accident & Emergency Nursing course in the new A&E Department. This post-registration course was 6mths long and after that I "staffed" for 6mths within the A&E Dept and it's Accident Ward.

I finally left Dartford at the end of 1970 in order to begin a psychiatric nurse training course at The Bethlem Royal & Maudsley (Joint) Hospitals in Beckenham and London.

So ....compared with many other individuals, my contact with JGH was fairly short ... and yet somehow I still feel JG had a significant impact upon me. Thus I have many memories of the hospital, it's activities and of the many colleagues who I encountered there plus a number of friends from "the old days" with whom I am still in contact.

But who are you ?

So let me know ask about you and your reasons for visiting this site (unless of course you arrived here by accident or simply through curiousity) ?

What past connections or current interest do YOU have in JGH ? Maybe you will want to leave a comment or some information here ? Perhaps you will pose a question or mount the beginnings of a search for someone you used to know and want to contact ?

As I have already said, I am 'a new boy on the block' and thus I cannot possibly promise to deal with/or even respond to every individual comment, enquiry or reminiscence.

I am after all, at least for the moment anyway, a one-person band on this blogsite. However, who can tell, if word gets round, perhaps other Joyce-Greeners with their own legacies will come on board and join me in making this a lively site and one which YOU will hopefully feel that it is worth returning to ?

An acknowledgement and a word of thanks to end with today.

But what has stimulated this man to launch this blog now you might well be asking ? Well recently whilst web-searching for some information on JGH I came across a reference to a book called "Joyce Green and the River Hospitals" by Francine Payne (Published in 2001). Unfortunately it is now out of print but recently I was able to get hold of a second-hand copy through an on-line bookseller and as a result I have already spent several hours this week soaking up lots of information that was previously unknown to me and enjoying all the photographs in this incredibly interesting book.

So I want to thank Francine Payne for all the work that she obviously put into producing the book at the time and I'd like to suggest that if you are interested in re-visiting some of the work, the history and the personalities of JGH during 'her' long life you might want to begin searching for a copy of this book for yourself.

And so finally .... for now at least.

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit to this site ? Perhaps you have something that you want say, contribute or ask ? In any case perhaps you'll come back sometime and see how the site is developing and to check to see who else has "come on board" ? In conclusion let me make it clear that this is NOT intended to be a nursing orientated weblog and it is open to all Joyce-Greeners or anyone with an interest in things directly associated with JGH.

Meanwhile "continue well".

David.