49. Celebrities at Joyce Green Hospital.

Key words/phrases : Nicole Kidman, Virginia Wolfe, “The Hours”, Ward 2B, “Z Cars”, geriatric wards, Her Majesty’s pleasure.

No. 49

Nicole Kidman the Australian film actress (who was actually born in Honolulu, Hawaii) is 40yrs old today and whilst I was thinking about her role as Virginia Wolfe in the film “The Hours” earlier today I found myself wondering how many previous members of staff were ever involved in caring for a celebrity or someone related to a well-known personality on one or other of the wards at Joyce Green Hospital ?

I can certainly remember as I was a student nurse helping to care for the elderly father of a popular British variety-show artist on one of the medical wards and then each of the nurses (yes, even the male members of the team) being left a box of women’s tights by this famous comedian/singer & dancer because he had not realised that there were also male nurses involved in looking after his father.

I also recall being a very junior student nurse on Ward 2B when a well-known British actor (of stage & screen) from the police crime series “Z Cars” was admitted for a haemorrhoidectomy. Quite understandably he came across as somewhat less of a hero in real life, but nonetheless he was very grateful for all the care and attention he received. He was cared for in one of the ward side rooms but I always wondered why he didn’t chose a private Hospital in which to be treated ? Perhaps he felt that his "cover" could be better secured in a provincial hospital ?

Finally I can remember feeling particularly sorry for the elderly father of a traitor who compromised British defence integrity during the 60s and who ended up in jail. His father was being nursed on one of the Geriatric wards at Joyce Green (although I confess to hating the label “geriatric”) and just when he his elderly father needed him most his son was unable to visit him because of being detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure.

Perhaps YOU can remember other celebrities who passed through Joyce Green Hospital whilst you were there … or perhaps you think of all patients as celebrities in their own right ?