[NV059] : Jacqueline at St George's |
Jacqueline Horton was born Jacqueline Martin in London in April 1930. She was always drawn to injured people, even as a young girl, and originally thought of becoming a Radiographer. She did not care for physics too much though and so changed her mind and decided to go into nursing.
She worked for a year, until she was 18, at Grovern’s Hospital in Southgate, before applying for full nursing training. She originally intended to train at University College Hospital, but failed the maths test they set her, as working night duty in Southgate had upset her revision. Undeterred she applied to St George’s Hospital, passed their maths test, and was offered a place.
In May 1948 Jacqueline left her family home for the first time and began PTS. She spent one afternoon a week on the wards during this period of training, and the rest of the time in the classroom.
PTS lasted 12 weeks and then Jacqueline, and the rest of her set, were sent out onto the wards. Jacqueline recalls this as being somewhat nerve-racking and also very hard work. The trainee nurses were expected to help with patient care, and also take on a lot of cleaning work. Two of the jobs Jacqueline particularly disliked were scrubbing down the beds with carbolic soap and cleaning the wheels of the portable screens that bed curtains would later replace. Jacqueline found the work so taxing that she actually wrote her resignation letter several times, but of course never sent it.
Jacqueline progressed through the training programme moving wards every 3 months. With each ward move her experience and skills increased and she was able to nurse in many different settings.
Despite the hard work Jacqueline and her friends found time to socialise. The Medical School Ball at the Dorchester and the Nursing School Ball at the Hyde Park Hotel were two particular high spots in the social calendar.
Having trained and worked in several different wards and hospitals Jacqueline began working in Atkinson Morley Hospital. It was there she did her year as a Staff Nurse working for six months on Hawkins ward and for another six months on Brodie ward.
Once she was a full State Registered Nurse Jacqueline decided to do her Midwifery training. On the advice given by an ex-Matron she met on a trip to Scotland she applied, and was accepted, to train in Midwifery at Elsie Ingles Hospital in Edinburgh. She therefore left St George’s and moved north.
Jacqueline remembers the hard work and, more importantly, the fun she had whilst training. She says of St George’s ‘I wouldn’t have trained anywhere else. I’m glad UCH turned me down.’
To read & listen to Jacqueline's experiences whilst at St George's please click on Jacqueline's Story