“If someone said would you do it again, I’d say ‘Yes, can I start tomorrow?’” – one of our longest serving team members reflects on 50 years in the NHS
“If you do a job, do it with your heart”, was the well-heeded advice given to one of Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust's longest-serving team members when she first embarked on her career in the NHS half a century ago.
The advice was from the parents of Healthcare Assistant Julie Daniels, who began her NHS nursing career two days after her 18th birthday in November 1973; this was as soon as she could back then when you had to be at least 18 to work in healthcare. Her first role was in the Rowley Bistow Orthopaedic Hospital (now a specialist unit within Ashford and St Peter’s).
“I was a real home bird at 18 and, while the nursing accommodation was only two or three miles away from home, I didn’t think I would be able to do it for long. But I did, I just got on with it and have never looked back.
“There was a stern approach from senior colleagues at the time, both off and on the wards. I was once berated by a Sister in my accommodation hall who caught me coming home at 11pm – she asked what my parents would think about my behaviour, right before telling me I needed a haircut as my hair was touching my collar!”
Julie moved to Royal Surrey in 1977 and has been with the Trust ever since.
“Nursing was very different back then too. For example, hospitals didn’t have disposable bed pans. They were made of metal and heavy! We had to clean them in very hot water and a powerful disinfectant, Hycolin. We then had to scrub and polish those pans until they shone – no watermarks!
The move to Egerton Road
“I remember the move from Farnham Road to our Egerton Road site so clearly. It was 2 January 1980. The tall trees opposite the main entrance today were just saplings, the car park was gravel and the road out the front was more of a pathway.
“My first position at the new site was in Theatres. The department was so long, with five theatres each end, we swore that we would buy a skateboard to get from one side of the theatre suite to the other.”
“It’s a phenomenal journey and an honour to be a part of it”
Julie has worked on most wards at Royal Surrey, but the majority of her career has been dedicated to caring for stroke patients during what she describes as their “phenomenal journey” to recovery.
She was part of the stroke care team when the stroke service was set up at Royal Surrey in the mid-1990s and now works day and night shifts on Wisley Ward. As well as caring for stroke patients, Wisley Ward also specialises in caring for patients with neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, brain tumours and myasthenia gravis, to name just a few.
“In stroke services, we’re supporting people through a life-changing experience, however small or large the stroke. Patients who first come to us often have limited use of their body. We rehabilitate them through a phenomenal journey with high-quality nursing and physiotherapy. It’s an honour and a privilege to be a part of it.
“I am also extremely lucky to be part of a ward team of staff where we look after each other and support each other.”
Julie holds herself to high standards of care and professionalism. She became a registered healthcare professional while working in stroke care in 2007, after completing her NVQ levels 2 and 3 certificates, and went on to achieve the Care Certificate in 2015.
Relationships at the heart of healthcare
Julie has seen a lot of changes but one thing has consistently shone throughout her career and that’s the people; her patients, colleagues and the friendships she’s formed.
“A really important skill in nursing is the ability to put any troubles or your bad day aside while you’re on shift. Whatever you do or say on a ward impacts your patients. And we are there to help them feel better, so we have to be the best version of ourselves while we care for them.
“In my experience, this can only be done with camaraderie – and we’ve got that in spades at Royal Surrey. When I look back on my career, it’s the relationships and the small, unexpected moments that stand out; often those incidents where things haven’t gone quite to plan, but in a harmless way. Healthcare is a serious, life or death business, but it’s important to keep perspective and have a laugh with your colleagues and patients – it helps to break up the seriousness of the work we do. It is also a major part of our coping mechanism.
“One embarrassing mishap for me happened when I was shaving a patient and the can of foam exploded over both of us. We both looked like we were auditioning for Father Christmas! Obviously, that was the point the consultant came in. He looked at the scene with disbelief before exclaiming ‘I think you’re in a spot of bother!’
“I’ve thought about retiring many times but I love this hospital so much and feel very lucky to be here. It’s my second home! There’s a great variety of expertise between these walls and every team I’ve been part of has rightly prided itself on being a great team.
“I can’t believe 50 years can go so quickly. If someone said would you do it again, I’d say ‘Yes, can I start tomorrow?’.”