Jane Boreham retired earlier this year as the lead nurse practitioner (senior sister) of the pre-assessment department in the ATC (Addenbrooke’s treatment centre). Jane worked in the ATC for 12 years. Before that she had 6½ years in the private sector, hence Jane only accruing 30 years at Addenbrooke’s despite starting in 1982!
I started working at Addenbrooke’s in 1982 when the staff nurses wore ‘hoover bag / maid Marian’ style hats and the sisters wore Cambridge blue dresses with a lacy hat and cuffs, pre national uniform as you can see from my photo!
We had fun at work despite all the rules and regulations. As the ward sister I remember the patients on the trauma ward were in for weeks, but they were allowed to smoke at certain times of the day! The doctors wore white coats and carried out formal ward rounds, often teaching at the bed side.
I still keep in contact with some colleagues from the 1980s and of course some still proudly work at Addenbrooke’s as we still call this amazing place.
We used to call each other by title and surname, we worked very hard and each grade had certain jobs. I would, as the ward sister, make the beds in each area of the ward with a different nurse and ask questions about their patients. The night sister walked each ward and shone a torch on the floor as she went to check everywhere was clean and tidy and all the patients were asleep and the staff were busy.
To name a few pranks… we would send new staff from level 6 to clinic one plaster room or to find items such as a long weight or fallopian tubes, medium size!
I have seen lots of changes over the years and the computerised system of medical records is the best and safest way to communicate internally and externally. The speed of work in all aspects makes for a sleeker and more professional work flow.
Say thank you
Thank staff at CUH