Description
Object description
British civilian served as nurse with Voluntary Aid Detachment at Dearnley Workhouse Hospital, Rochdale, Lancashire, GB, 1915-1919.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period as nurse with Voluntary Aid Detachment at Dearnley Workhouse Hospital, Rochdale, Lancashire, GB, 1915-1919: story of becoming a VAD nurse; daily routine and duties; description of Dearnley Workhouse and conversion into military hospital; number of patients; description of washing and re-using bandages; story about having end of septic finger amputated; story of preventing doctor amputating sapper's leg; story about operation on patient with septic tooth; story about death of soldier with amputated leg; reason for VADs not being allowed in operating theatre; military organisation in hospital; story of meeting patient who had attended same school; recreational activities for patients; volunteered for additional duties with St. John's Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross; description of making dressings and applying to wounds; attitude to work as nurse; daily routine for changing dressings; various memories of other nurses; description of hospital block used by soldiers; received commendation certificate from Army Council; relations with patients; description of ward and beds; visits by relatives; story about patients making toy gun to collect Christmas contributions and complaints from visitors; description of Christmas party in ward; question of giving alcohol to patients; story about Canadian soldier asking to clean teeth; opinion of House Sister Miss Lowe; story of shortening dress by two inches; story of being reprimanded by House Sister for pressing patients' trousers; assistance from patients with kitchen duties; amusing story about old lady asking soldier where he was wounded; description of patients arriving at hospital from Rochdale Station after Battle of the Somme, 7/1916; problem of overcrowding and shortage of beds; working hours; description of patients' hospital uniform; description of 'diddy' bags and contents.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to discipline in hospital; assistance from patients in ward; amusing story about practical joke played on nurse; story about not making up beds correctly; question of discipline during doctors' rounds; opinion of Miss Lowe and Miss Wolfe; method of addressing patients; story about treating patient with serious head wound; description of feeding patient through rectum; opinion of hospital visitors; use by patients of YMCA hut in grounds; story about patients embroidering regimental crests; further comments on work as nurse and relations with patients; use of ether as painkiller and antiseptic; description of treatment for frostbite cases; attitude to working in hospital after conversion back to civilian use; story about soldier with spinal injury; opinion of VADs; story about personal relationship with Irish soldier.