Retired Old City Infirmary nurses visit to see Truro site's transformation (From Falmouth Packet)

Retired Old City Infirmary nurses visit to see Truro site's transformation

10:00am Friday 19th October 2012 in News

Retired nurses of the Old City Infirmary in Truro have been the first  to see the progress of its refurbishment into homes this week.

Muriel McGuiness, 66 and Stephanie Quinn, 57, started their training at the Infirmary in their teens. Returning to the hospital site as members of the Royal Cornwall Nurses League they were keen to witness its transformation.

Full of nostalgia, the ladies were able to recount the layout of wards and living quarters from the ‘70’s during a walk about of Royal Barham House, a three hundred year old building that was once home to the city’s Infirmary.

“Everybody knew each other at The City; it was more like a family. As trainee nurses we were in awe of the surgeons and we were excited at the prospect of getting our nurses hats and capes.

"I still fondly remember turning our capes inside out from blue to the red lining for carol singing at Christmas and the surgeons would come and cut the turkey on Christmas day and stir the puddings for the patients.

"It was a different world then. The matron had a great part to play in the layout and facilities of the wards to meet the patient’s needs. Doing nights in the casualty unit meant just myself a plasterer and a doctor on call and the linen cupboard was no more than a shed full of starched sheets and nightclothes for the patients.” said Muriel.

This year will be the 41st anniversary of the Royal Cornwall Nurses League who annually gather to remember life at the hospital. The first two apartments at Royal Barham House will soon be open for viewing.