Last updated 09:00, Saturday, 22 November 2008

Today we take the National Health Service for granted, but it is only 60 years ago that health care was a luxury not everyone could afford.

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Betty Crothers in 1967 training as SRN Nurse (back row, second left)

It is difficult for most of us to imagine what life was like without ‘free’ health care and the difference that the NHS made to people’s lives.

It was a momentous achievement when the service started on July 5 1948 and everyone wanted the new service to work.

Everyone was eligible for care, even people temporarily resident or visiting the country. People could be referred to any hospital, local or more distant.

Care was entirely free at the point of use, although prescription changes and dental charges were subsequently introduced.

Although their numbers, both in hospitals and in the community, had increased by roughly a third in the first 10 years of the NHS, there were never enough nurses – a cry we still here today.

In today’s Timeline, Betty Whyte-Caine (nee Crothers) of Carlisle looks back at her time in nursing from the age of 16 when she began as a cadet, and believe me she has some tales to tell.

Along with other students, who remain friends to this day, Betty recalls her time, both in her working and social life as a nurse.

“Before starting your career in nursing during the Sixties, you first of all had to be interviewed by the matron, with your parents present.

“Our uniform was a dress and apron in peach colour, but we didn’t wear a cap...that was only for nurses.

“As a cadet nurse, you were a skivvy to everyone, although it did give you a great insight into nursing. We had to scrub bed-pans and sputum mugs until they shone, look after the flowers and run errands for the patients, which sometimes meant a trip to the bookies. We also had to clean patient’s false teeth and I remember one day we got them mixed up and had to go round each patient trying out the teeth until we found the right owners.

“At the age of 18 I began my nurses training. We wore a uniform of blue and white striped, calf-length dress, a white starched apron topped off with a white cap. We all wore our uniform with pride.

“We were never allowed to wear it, or take it out of the hospital and all uniforms were boiled at the City General laundry and steam ironed.

“It was compulsory to ‘live-in’ when you started your first year of training. I lived out in the country at Laversdale and we very rarely left the village as there was no public transport after 7pm so it was all new to me leaving home, and initially I was a bit anxious. However, after a month I loved it. It suited us all as it gave us independence and the chance to get to know each other and go out and socialise together – which we did a lot of.

“Our rooms were sparse in our first year – bare floor boards and little furniture. However, as you progressed through your training so your accommodation improved.

“We had to be in by 11pm or allowed one late pass and sign in once a week. If you did not obey this rule, a letter was sent to your parents.

“Did we obey this rule? I’m afraid not. Of course there were room checks done by the night sisters, but we used the old trick of putting a pillow in the bed to let them think we were sound asleep.

We were lucky that there was a fire escape that went up to one of the nurses bedrooms so we used it pretty often. Even the police who patrolled the grounds in their Panda car got to know what we were up to and used to watch and wave to us.

“There was always registration at breakfast so we had to make sure we were all accounted for by then.

“However it wasn’t all fun. As well as becoming nurses we became great cleaners too. Once a day we damp-dusted the wards and once a week all the staff helped in cleaning the ward. Sister supervised to make sure we did it right. All beds and lockers were pulled out, every rail cleaned, floors were scrubbed and curtains washed.

“If you broke a thermometer, you had to take it to matron for replacement at 9.30am. You had to stand in a queue and then had to pay for it. I remember one girl was told to sterilise 30 thermometers. She boiled them and broke them all (she was one who did not complete her nursing training).

“Once (in 1968) we held a demonstrations for more pay as we only got around £20 a month. I can’t quite remember if we got a rise or not though.

“Next time I’ll tell you about the tutors, the skeleton, the apple-pie beds and why we put parsley in the jam.”