Staff look back at life on the wards
The anniversary brought back memories for many current and former staff.
It was a real family affair for staff nurse Emily Jane Blair who attended the vintage tea party at Forth Valley Royal Hospital with her gran Pearl Livingston, a former nurse from Plean, and mum Jane Blair, who works with patients with learning disabilities at Lochview Hospital in Larbert.
Pearl recognised herself in one of the archive photos which was used on a NHS 70 banner displayed at FVRH.
Pearl visited ward A32 at Forth Valley Royal Hospital with her daughter, granddaughters and husband. She told current staff how it was when she was nursing over 50 years ago and said later she felt she had been“treated like a celebrity”, and had happy tears for the rest of the day.
Many former staff took to social media with their thoughts.
Jan McGarrigle said:“I trained and worked in Stirling Royal Infirmary, wards 4, 29,22. Great memories with all nurses, doctors and also made life long friends. From 1996-2005 I was there.”
Lillias Stewart O’Hare said:“Spent 34 yrs working in SRI labour ward 1970-1978 then transferred over to theatres till I retired 2004. Great place to work. The laughs we had along with the sadness of Dunblane which we will always remember. A few of our longtime colleagues have passed, true professionals everyone of them.”
Ann May added: “Started training in SRI in 1977 - still nursing.”
Bill Anderson meanwhile had decades of memories of the service, including being named Nurse of the Year.
He said:“Started my general nurse training in SRI 1962. Nurse of the year Gold Medal - John Risk Medal 1966; staff nurse theatres, left to undertake neuro surgery and neuro medical training DRI. Returned as charge nurse Ward One SRI, nursing officer, senior nurse manager. My last years in SRI, project manager, setting up Younger Disabled Service.
Happy, happy years. Made so many lifelong friends.”