Maureen is celebrating 50 years of nursing | News

Maureen Wallis is celebrating 50 years of nursing in the NHS, during which time she has cared for patients in Wakefield, Dewsbury, Leeds, and Manchester.

Maureen currently works as a Senior Sister on the Elective Surgical Unit / Day Surgery, on Ward 12 at Dewsbury Hospital.

During her time, there have been many different highlights. She recalls meeting King Charles (Prince of Wales at the time) and Princess Diana when they visited the Burns Unit at Pinderfields Hospital soon after the Bradford fire.

And Maureen says she ‘has seen many changes in the way that hospitals operate.’

She can remember the times when staff got dressed up and celebrated Christmas on the wards with the patients, and where the doctors carved the turkey. 

Maureen says, ‘things were very different in those days,’ and that ‘a lot has changed for the better.’ 

For example, she remembers when patients were allowed to smoke cigarettes in their hospital beds.

She also recalls when ‘back rounds’ were a thing. On a ‘back round’ the nurses would go round with a big trolley, checking patients for pressure ulcers and changing beds. 

‘At that time, they even used egg white and oxygen as a treatment for pressure ulcers,’ she says.

Maureen can also recall when hoists weren’t a thing, and when it came to lifting patients up to move them, the nurses had to perform a back breaking ‘Australian lift.’ 

She says she is ‘so proud of the nursing profession and being part of it for 50 years.’ 

Also, of how nursing has progressed, including the introduction of Advanced Clinical Practitioners, getting patients mobile sooner, and the increased opportunity for career progression and collaboration.

So, how is Maureen going to celebrate? There has already been a small celebration on her ward at Dewsbury hospital, where she was presented with champagne and flowers. She will also be catching up with some old student nursing friends in Manchester.

Maureen’s timeline

• 8 Sept 1975 - Started training at Withington Hospital, South Manchester. Completed training and worked on Burns and Plastics
• 1977 - Moved to St James Hospital, Leeds to do midwifery course. Completed that, then went back into general nursing in Orthopaedics
• 1982 - Did a post reg orthopaedic nursing certificate. Started working at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield on an orthopaedic ward. Moved to Burns unit when ward closed
• 1994 - Worked at Clayton Hospital as a Junior Sister on secondment. Then went on secondment to be a night coordinator, as an F grade. Her base ward at Pinderfields Hospital changed from Orthopaedics to Urology (which is still her favourite speciality). Moved to Ward H at Pinderfields, then to Gate 34 as a Senior Sister
• 2017 - Moved to Dewsbury Hospital where she is now working part time and job shares.