Tidworth Military Hospital

Radio Shows

2015-05-15T17:22:00.002+01:00

Hi to all of you visiting this site. You'll find many articles below that describe my time at the Military Hospital Tidworth. There I trained as a nurse, operating theatre technician, gained management experience and found my self managing the department that was responsible for supplying medical devices to wards, departments and operating theatres for use in surgery. Marvellous experience. It was also the place in which I learned, to my absolute surprise, that I wanted to get involved in radio work.

Don't ask me how or why.It was one of those things hat just happened. In another article I'll go into it a bit deeper and discuss my progress in that area.

In he meantime, here's a link to some of my more recent radio shows that are available on Mixcloud. Please feel free to visit as often as you'd like, and even tell a friend about it.

Thanks again for calling by.
www.mixcloud.com/peter-haynes

Whats Coming Next on WiganFM?

2015-01-31T19:08:00.000+00:00

Whitstable Harbour (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Its the last day of January 2015 as I write this. A wet wild windy and occasionally snowy month for us here in Whitstable.

Its also a busy month. Lots of family things going on, as well as producing shows for Wiganfm. Each week I present 3 shows, 2 hours each, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They start at 10am UK time and finish at 12md.

In the first hour of the show we'l have your favourite love songs and a featured artist for the day, as well as your dedications. At 11am, we move on to a new feature which will run for three weeks. On Mondays it will be "Country Connection," the best there is in country music. On Tuesday at 11am its "Let There Be ROCK," and on Wednesday morning we'll move on to Jazz. As you know, Jazz come in many forms...one size definitely doesn't fit all. I play a wide variety of types to suit all tastes.

To Join me, just type wiganfm.com into your search engine and we'll be together in no time at all. If you want to listen via your pad or smartphone, download the Tunein radio app....search for wiganfm.

I look forward to us getting together on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Hello and Welcome To My Radio

2015-01-28T20:32:00.000+00:00

Hello, and thank you for visiting. Many things have happened since I last posted on this site. One major event is that I have returned to international broadcasting, which I left behind way back in 1998.

The reason for leaving was that my work in commercial radio was impacting on my work in management in the National Health Service in UK.

Happily, that is all in the past. I now am back, working with a radio station called Wiganfm. If this link does not take you directly you to the page, please just type wiganfm.com into you browser. It is based in Wigan, which is in north west England.It is what is know as a Community Radio Station. I work on three mornings each week. They are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. My shows are at 10am UK time and last for two hours.

If you would like to join me, please just search for wiganfm.com in your browser, or you can download the Tunein radio app to your smartphone, pad, computer or laptop.

I'll update this page more often as the days go by. I look forward to your visiting Wiganfm.com

wiganfm.com

2014-11-05T16:40:00.000+00:00

Such A Long Time.......

2014-07-02T13:48:00.000+01:00

Just can't believe how long since I last posted. Been so busy I guess. Since last year I have moved house, decorated, done up the new garden,not alone I have to say, but with the help of my incredibly hard working wife. Don't know where I'd be without her!!

It's not all been just about hard work. Since the days that I was in Tidworth......54 years ago as I write this, I have wanted to get involved in working as a radio producer/presenter. In 1983, I got the chance to do so. I won't go into how, when,where at this time, I'll do that another day. Suffice it to say, I left the business in 1995.

I've always missed the studio environment, and despite my really longing to get involved again, I didn't have the courage to try. Come January 2014, I decided to take my courage in both hands and look around to see who would take on a 67 year old ex-Soldier and ex-NHS manager.I searched the internet and found Miskin Radio. I emailed via the website, and much to my surprise, got an invitation to go for a trial. Have to say here and now, the station manager was a guy that had worked at a previous station I also worked for, did that help? Possibly!!!!! Was I nervous? yep, I certainly was. After a while during which I practiced and and found that it still gave me a tremendous buzz, I was offered a show once a week.

My first broadcast seemed like the worst thing I'd ever done, and I was ready to walk away. My new boss encouraged me to keep going...so I did. I now do two shows each week, would love to do more but the long distances between home and the studio put me off a bit. Look below, and you'll see a link to my shows, Monday and Tuesday mornings every week, 10am through 12MD UK times.

visit Miskin Radio via www.tunein.com Just put Miskin Radio in the search box and you'll find it.

Not only do I broadcast on that station, I now also work for Veteransradionet. I currently officially have two shows each week, this time on Saturday and Sunday mornings, between 10am through 12MD each day. From time to time I pop up at other times...currently July 2014, I'm on every day from 6pm through 8pm covering for the usual presenter who is unwell. This station is a great set up, run by British Forces Veterans, for Veterans around the world. It supports colleagues in times of stress and hardship, by putting them in touch with the relevant organisations. It is also a great shoulder on which to lean, and a great listener to those with something they want to get off their chest.

Visit us in two ways. Via the Facebook page, veteransradionet, or via www.veteransradionet.com

Hope you'll get the chance to join me on either of the above station, or even both, when you get the chance.

The Late Maj- Gen. Patrick Dignan

2013-02-09T14:02:00.003+00:00

Back in the 1960's, while based at Tidworth Military Hospital, I had the priveledge of working with a number of people who influenced my training and future learning. They ranged from Ward Sisters, Operating Theatre Sisters, Operating Theatre Technicians, and even one or two Regimental Seargeant Majors!!!!

Above all those people though, the one name that stands out for me is a man that we Technicians knew as "Paddy" Dignan. Not that we addressed him as such though! Major Dignan he was at the time, a General Surgeon, which really means that he was capable of operating on most areas of the human body, although I would say that Opthalmic Surgery, ENT Surgery and Dental Surgery were not on his list of "To Do's." He was, to me and to many others, a Gentleman. I never knew him to once ignore anyone as he went about his daily work, acknowledging nurses and addressing them politely and with respect, and treating theatre staff in an equally respectful manner. There were of course, moments when it could clearly be seen that he was deep in thought as he walked through the hospital, his mind probably focussed on his next task.

With such excellent memories of this Gentleman, and the influence he had on my training, and that of others, along with his exceptional devotion to the treatment, well being and recovery of his patients, it was with great sadness that I recently learned of his death. I have attached a copy of the Obituary published in the Daily Telegraph, recording the passing of Maj-Gen. Dignan. I won't try to outdo this obituary, but I can add a couple of things that don't feature in it.

Maj. Dignan, as he was when I knew him, always gave the impression of loving his work, and especially his research programmes. His operating days were Tuesday and Thursday, back to back lists which means he was in theatres all day each day. We technicians looked forward to the publication of his surgical lists, with some trepidation-wondering just how many cases he was able to get through in one single day. I don't ever remember seeing short lists. I do remember lists with up to 20 cases though!!

Also memorable was the research programme he conducted with regard to the treatment of Duodenal Ulcers. The work that resulted from the reasearch was lauded world-wide when published. I can't remember how many Vagotomy and Pyloroplasty operations were carried out during that reasearch, but it kept us all very very busy for some time.

You'll notice I am sure, that I have headed this article Maj- Gen. Patrick Dignan. His full name though was Albert Patrick Dignan. The Albert part of the name was never mentioned by anyone, let alone him. He is quoted as saying he "abhored" the name Albert. The Dignan part of his name is the anglicised version of the Irish name, O'Duigenan. In his book, "A Doctors Experiences Of Life," published in 1994, tells an amusing story of a car salesman and his insistence on addressing him as Albert. I won't disclose the outcome of the potential sale, you can find that out in the book. I would just say that if you should come by a copy of his book, buy it. I am fortunate enough to have a signed copy-NO its's not for sale!!!

Finally, I would reiterate my total respect for a man who became an outstanding surgeon, as well as being a much loved and sorely missed family man.

R.I.P. Patrick Dignan, born July 25th 1920. Died October 11th 2012.

Related articles

Seasonal Goings On

2013-01-19T17:14:00.001+00:00

English: Tidworth - Tidworth Park Fine avenue of trees in Tidworth Park. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now it could be, and it has been said, that I am none too bright for my age. Yes, even those closest to me have confirmed what others have thought and said.

The reason I bring this to your attention is thus. Try as hard as I might, I cannot remember what we used to get up to over Christmas and New Year back in the mid to late sixties, other than working of course. Christmas in Tidworth would have been as well celebrated by the men and women of the British Army, based there, as well as the families, as it would have been anywhere. Of that there would be no doubt.

English: Farmland near Tidworth Alongside the A338. Tidworth can be seen in the background. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For my first three Christmases and New Years, I was a single lad with very little cash to spend, as the maximum pay I earned was in the region of £3 a week after tax in 1965. Mind you, food and accommodation were provided as part of my contract with the Ministry of Defence to defend Queen and Country, so I should not complain. (or so I was told) If anyone remembers better than I do what the scales of pay were at that time, I would appreciate you reminding me.

On the work side of things, as many military patients as was possible were discharged and R.T.U'd. Sorry, that was jargon-unforgivable. It means Returned To Unit. Civilian patients were sent home, some to return once the festive season had expired, and wives and children discharged to home.

One thing I do remember, when working on the children's ward during the build up to Christmas, was the number of very young children being admitted via casualty after being brought in during the very late evenings and in very cold weather. I am sorry to say, that young kids became a bit of a nuisance to some very young parents who were likely to miss out on parties if they couldn't get a baby sitter. (Strangely enough, similar things happens these day in the NHS, but the nuisance relative is the elderly relative.)

On male adult wards at least, Christmas Presents were handed out in the form of boxes of cigarettes. They were boxes of 50 each. They were presents from another country and cost the UK tax payer nothing. Those that didn't smoke still accepted them, as they would become valuable in bartering later on.

Apart from working, as mentioned before, I have no recollection of any particular festivities. If anyone reading this DOES have any memories from that period, please use the comments facility at the end of this article. Thanks.

I Wasn't The Only One........

2012-07-09T18:42:00.000+01:00

If you dig deep enough in the pages of this Blog, you'll find tales of my early days in nursing and how, from time to time, things didn't go quite according to plan. Although it is rather cruel of me to say so, I'm glad it didn't just happen to me!!

During my early days in Tidworth, I had the pleasure of working in the same unit as John Silkstone. John was a transferee from the Royal Artillery, who became a very popular Medic. John has kindly submitted a piece for publication, which is shown below. (If the name rings a bell, yes, he has contributed before, for which I thank him.)

....................

In May 1964 I was posted to the UN in Cyprus for 6 months, eventually returning to Tidworth in December 1964, were I then went on two weeks leave.

R and E DEPARTMENT

My leave over, I returned to BHM Tidworth. My new job was working in the Casualty department, and one of the first people I met there was Jan Lord who had been posted back to Tidworth from BMH Dhekelia Cyprus and so we started going out together.

WHAT ENTERTAINMENT!

Tidworth was only a small village and there was very little to do there. Most people went to the army cinema, which was run by the Army Kinema Corps. Douglas McLeod, one of the medics from the hospital, worked at the cinema and would always save Jan and me our seats on the back row.
With nowhere else to go, Jan knew she could always find me in the games room playing snooker with Sammy Shaw, Ken Brock, Pete Deck and sometimes Taffy Leek, just to name a few.
In the hospital library on a Tuesday night from 19.00 – 21.00 hrs, Colonel Harston the Gynaecologist would hold a jazz club night. One night he informed us that he had been told by the Commanding Officer that he had to stop the junior ranks from calling him Tony. His next statement was to say, that from this night onwards we had to call him Anthony.

NEVER MIND THE QUALITY, FEEL THE MIRTH.

One night I was on duty when an unconscious Ghurkha was brought into casualty. A Colonel whom I shall not name was also on duty. After giving the patient a thorough examination, he declared that the patient was suffering from urine retention. “As the patient is unconscious and won’t feel any pain,” he said, “I intend to exert pressure on his bladder and remove the blockage.”
I went off to collect a urine bottle; upon my return I placed the man's penis into the bottle. I expected the doctor to exert a firm but gentle pressure on the man’s abdomen; it’s not often I’m right, and I was wrong again. The doctor placed both hands on the patient’s abdomen and applied his full weight. The sudden movement caused the man's penis to pop out of the bottle, and the external pressure on the abdomen caused a small stone to be dislodged. The bladder, now being freed from its blockage, sent a stream of urine about five feet into the air. Seeing this eruption of urine, I jumped back away from the table. The Colonel, being of sounder stock, stood his ground.
The urine, not having the necessary velocity to escape Earth’s gravitational pull, now started its downward motion in the direction of the doctor. The cascading urine landed on his right shoulder and ran down his white coat. As a smirk spread across my face the Colonel said, “I suppose you think this is funny?”
Still gazing at the urine running down his coat, I saw that his right hand pocket, which held his stethoscope, was now filling up. This vision was too much for me and I erupted into laughter.
I laugh so much that I went into a hysterical laughing fit, and the anaesthetist had to be call out to put me to sleep. I awoke on recovery ward to find that my ribs felt as though they had been marched over by a regiment of soldiers. On top of all that, I was charged for insubordination, which got me another seven days restricted privileges.

...............................

Thanks John.

It's Just The Little Things............

2012-06-04T18:17:00.002+01:00

English: Tidworth - Derelict Bowling Alley This was the former Tidworth Bowl, once one of the highlights of Tidworth's nightlife. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The question I am most asked is, What was so special about Tidworth? Quite simply put-it was the little things that made it so special.

The biggest of the little things was the amount of trust shown in me-a young and former village boy whose only hope for the future had been that I was on the short-list as a future Village Idiot in the Buckinghamshire village in which I was raised.

I believe Trust is something that people show in others, once a person has demonstrated a level of capability that can be demonstrated instinctively. Clearly, someone in Tidworth trusted me to do the jobs I had trained for. It was something I had never experienced before. Being allowed to practice one's trade without overt supervision is something rather special. (Just wish my wife had the same trust in me today-apparently I am incapable of hoovering the living room properly. And as for cleaning up in the kitchen-don't even go there!) After sufficient training I was allowed to practice nursing and Operating Theatre Technician duties both during the day, and at night in the Casualty Department, as part of a team and as an individual.

I have a humbling memory of an incident in which I attended a road accident late at night, involving three cars and numerous casualties. One of the casualties I attended to was a young lady who had clearly suffered a fractured jaw and who needed immediate treatment and oxygen therapy. Be as gentle as you might, treating anyone with a fracture at the roadside inevitably involves causing that person further pain and discomfort. In those days we did not carry much more than first aid equipment and oxygen in the ambulance. I did what I had been trained to do, but was not enjoying the reaction of the patient. Having achieved this and having also determined that she was the more serious of the casualties, we set off back to the hospital leaving the second ambulance team to carry on. While on the journey back, this young lady looked at me and smiled as best she could while reaching her hand out to me, which I took hold of. She trusted me. I have never got over that one incident and the expression of faith in me. A very humbling moment.

Another "little thing" that stays with me is the ability to tie a knot with one hand, surgeon style. I learnt this "skill" after a short while when training as a Theatre Technician. At first I was spell bound by this seemingly magical articulacy that surgeons, and doctors in casualty demonstrated when suturing wounds. Silly I know, but I'm chuffed that I can still do it!

Freedom was something I enjoyed about Tidworth. Sounds silly perhaps, but where I was brought up it was difficult to travel anywhere. By the time I left Twyford to join the Army, there were just three buses a week to get about in. Tuesday it was Buckingham, Friday it was Bicester and Saturday was to Aylesbury. Miss one of these and it was awhole week 'til the next one. In Tidworth however, there was the Number 8 bus at least once an hour I believe. From one side of the road the bus would take you to Andover. From the other, it would take you to Salisbury. Never had such freedom been known to me. I loved it. Again, something so simple.

I loved the village as well. Yes, I know, another very simple thing. To me though it had more to offer than my home village. There we had one general store, a village hall, a butcher and two pubs. Tidowrth had so much more on offer. two cafes, a bowling alley, a YMCA, several Naffi Shops, a multitude of NAAFI bars, a Chemist, two general stores, a fruit and veg shop a ladies and gents hairdresses and a cinema. Who needed London when you've got all that? Different picture now I believe.

Last but not least for now, it was quite simply a great hospital in which to work. The people working there, both civilian and military, got on together so well. Each helped the other without having to be asked. Teamwork and camaraderie were the order of the day.

Would I have rather started my career in some whiz bang city hospital? Absolutely not!

Tidworth Social Life In The Sixties-Part Two

2012-03-27T18:52:00.000+01:00

Tidworth - The Ram Public House A popular drinking establishment which was built in 1848. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Where shall we go next in our whirlwind tour of the village of Tidworth and its entertainments? We have a choice of a Pub, A Bookmakers or yet another NAAFI.

We'll start with the Pub. The only public house I knew of was "The Ram." I don't know the origin of the name, but as it was in a rural area where sheep, amongst other farm animals could be found, the name certainly didn't seem to be out of character with the area. It was hardly a new establishment as it dated from 1848. It had worn well though, despite the passage of literally thousands of soldiers through its doors. I always remember there being a welcome given to hospital staff when we visited. I remember visiting, not too frequently though, with friends, and with my girlfriend, who later became my wife. I was not, at that time at least, too familiar with the ways of drinking and "knowing my ales." I will only say that the brewery supplying The Ram was Brickwoods which I believe was a Southampton brewery. I was told by the more experienced drinkers of the day, that it was "a good pint." This I won't contest-all I will say is that I have tasted others since then that suit my palate better. The favourite games in the pub were the inevitable darts and dominoes. I never took part in these as (a) I wasn't safe with a sharpened pencil in my hand let alone a tungsten tipped mini-spear, and (b) what the hell is this dominoes thing all about anyway? Way over my head it was, and still is!

As popular as The Ram might have been with the local populace and the military, I reckon there was one place that was equally, if not more popular. What could this place be? It was none other than Captain Keith Hurts' betting emporium, the local Bookies. I have to admit to being attracted to the place in my early days in Tidworth. I heard so many of my colleagues talking about winning pound after pound in the bookies, that I became tempted to try and do likewise. Thankfully, I soon discovered that it was a fallacy that riches were just waiting for me to collect. My first Theatre boss was a keen visitor to this establishment-in fact I seem to remember he almost lived there! The bookies, strangely enough actually became a popular place for me a little later.

One of the ways that the Hospital Management Team found to keep their staff amused was by having Regimental Weekends. For those not familiar with this term, Regimental Weekends were a legitimate use of a soldiers time and energy in terms of using cheap, if not free labour at weekends to tidy up the local area, apply coats of paint to peeling woodwork, cut grass etc, so that the areas around the hospital and barrack areas were always "ship-shaped and Bristol fashion." Sorry about using a naval term, but I couldn't think of an army equivalent. Sadly though, they were occasionally used as a form of punishment. If the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM) and or Company Commander carried out a Barrack Room inspection whilst suffering with a hangover, or having lost at the bookies or whatever else might have upset them, they would declare a Regimental Weekend as punishment for even the most minor problem discovered during the inspection. To cut a long story short, we had an RSM with a heart for a short while, prior to his accepting a Quartemaster Commision. His wife knew my wife, via the Wives Club. I had a record of being late for work at one time, so, this particular RSM, and I promise you this is true-bought me an alarm clock to bring my lateness to an end. He would also, on the occasion of a Regimental Weekend, make me report to his office mid-way through the Saturday morning for "Duty Runner" duties. Always my task was the same. He would pass to me an envelope with his bets for that day along with cash, and send me hot foot to the bookies. From there, having collected his betting slip, I should return to his office prior to being dismissed for the rest of the weekend. All this happened because of the Wives Club. For anyone who doesn't know of such clubs, the Cosa Nostra could learn a lot from them in terms of influence!

The third and final social centre was the NAAFI complex in Station Road. Within could be found a Bar and a Store cum Supermarket. Without doubt, at the time I was there, this was the biggest store in Tidworth. Later a Ten Pin Bowling Alley was built next to the store. An instant hit, it served as a popular place to meet and have a burger and a drink as well as to hire a pair of shoes and throw overweight balls down an immaculately maintained runway, with the expected result that all ten pins would be knocked over as one. Not, strictly speaking, always the case for me. Nevertheless, great fun was had by many. It helped us while away an afternoon or evening. I look back and remember how I enjoyed making others laugh with my failures, while they continued to improve. I seem to remember that I never received an invitation to join the hospital bowling team. Still, their loss not mine.

As well as the complex having a bowling alley, it also was blessed with a manager who appeared to have been separated at birth from both a sense of humour and any conception of good manners. Popularity was not a word that featured in his vocabulary. Many a young soldier was removed from either the bar of bowling alley for at might have been a minor misdemeanour. Now, this is where the story really starts.

At this time I was married, and renting a small flat above the Green Grocers part way up Station Road. I had married before I reached the age of 21 years, so didn't qualify for a Married Quarter. (Don't worry, the wives club sorted that one out for me after just a few months.) At the back of the building was an alley way that ran the length of the hill, up to the NAFFI Complex. One Sunday morning we were awoken by a member of the local Constabulary. (My wife, bless her, immediately said that I had been at home all night and didn't do it anyway, whatever it was.) Casting flippancy aside, "whatever it was" turned out to be the discovery of the NAAFI managers body in the toilets of the club. All of us living in the vacinity were questioned for some time about whether we had seen or heard anything "suspicious" overnight. Regardless of the lack his popularity, he did not deserve to have his life ended in was was later reported as a violent way. The bowling alley was closed for some time. I will be honest and say that I was shocked by the whole affair. It took some time for the earlier happy atmosphere to return to the premises. Eventually there was an arrest and a prosecution for murder committed in the course of a robbery.

Well thats all I remember of social facilities in Tidworth from days gone by. I'm sure there were more. If you remember any that I have missed-do let me know, via the comments facility at the bottom of this article. Many Thanks.

Tidworth Social Life In The Sixties

2012-03-15T18:57:00.000+00:00

Image via Wikipedia"When I was a lad........." How many times have you heard that dreaded saying? Usually it comes from the mouths of the older members of society and is often accompanied by a lecture/sermon. The lecture/sermon usually goes on about just how lucky young people are today. "I never had half of what you lot have got these days-and you still ain't happy."
Image via WikipediaHeaven forbid that my thoughts on how people like me spent our leisure time back in the "swinging sixties" in Tidworth comes over like a lecture/sermon. If it does, please look upon me with a certain amount of sympathy.

To put the period and the things on offer in Tidworth into perspective, I should explain a little of my background. I arrived in Tidworth from the Junior Tradesmans Regiment, Rhyl. In those days Rhyl was a bustling holiday resort during the summer. It came with the obligatory fun fair on the sea front, candy floss, sticky sticks of rock and fish and chips by the pantechnicon full. In the winter it was a cold bleak seaside town with little to recommend it other than the Flamingo Cafe, or perhaps the splendid views out across the bay, which on a good day afforded a view as far as Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Being a Junior Soldier, earning just 3/6d (went up to 6/- a week later) a week, the summer attractions were largely beyond my pocket. Some young soldiers got "support" from home in the form of postal orders. I was one of the many who didn't.

Prior to Rhyl, I lived in the small Buckinghamshire village of Twyford. There was little in the way of social life there I can tell you! The village hall housed a Youth Club that seemed to be available only occasionally. Not a lot to get excited about there then!!! To be honest with you, the move to Tidworth opened up a whole new chapter in my life, my social life that is. So what did we do to amuse ourselves back then?Those of you of reading this who remember more of the life we led in Tidworth than I do, please leave your memories in the "comments" section at the end of this article. I'll then publish them for you, fully credited to of course.

The NAAFI is usually the place to start. The hospital had its own club/bar. My memories lead me to believe that it consisted of little more than a long bar, a room filled to the brim with tables and chairs, a fruit machine, and a toilet area. The air within the cluttered seating area was permanently blue. No, not with bad language, but with the acrid smell of blue/grey clouds of smoke. The decor was a kind of nocotine colour. I defy anyone to remember seeing any colour other than brown on the walls. You'd think that being Medics and Nurses, there would have been more consideration given to health wouldn't you? Not for one moment, the idea that smoking would lead to ill health didn't cross the mind of anyone using the place-or so it would seem in those days. Another aspect of defiance of any advice regarding future good health manifested itself in the amount of alcohol consumed on a daily, weekly basis. Medics have in the past, been renowned for their apparent alcohol consumption abilities. Members of regiments who held the belief that the average medic was rather less manly than others, were soon relieved of that belief having lost in a drinking competition. I'm sure it is no longer the case and that habits have changed (as if!!!)

What about beyond the four walls of the NAFFI bar? Just along the road was the YMCA. I used to visit the cafe part to buy a Vanilla Slice from time to time. Not once did I find myself queing for service except during NAFFI break time in the mornings-good cheap place for the local squaddies for a cup of tea and a sticky bun mid-morning. Beyond the morning breaks, the place was not the epicentre of social events.

The Garrison area was blessed shall we say, with a cinema and a theatre. If I remember correctly, the cinema was run by the Army Kinema Corporation (AKC) It was a temporary arrangement, following the burning down of the original cinema, which was down by what was known as Hampshire Cross. This was simply a cross roads point. It was rather more significant than that though. It was the point where the two "Tidworths" collided!! One part was in Hampshire, the other in Wiltshire. My memories of movies I saw in the temporary cinema are confined to Kubricks "Clockwork Orange." The Garrison Theatre, while not open every day of the week, did stage some excellent presentations. Most were visiting pop stars of the day performing their hits. I also have memories of dances being arranged from time to time. (I hope my memory is right about this.)

What else could we get up to of an evening, or even during the day? Staion Road was the "main street" of Tidworth. Here could be found a green grocers shop, owned by Shaw Porter. There was a chemist, a dry cleaners, a cafe and a NAFFI store. (There were other shops, but I don't remember them.) The cafe, The Vic as it was known was most poular with the hospital staff. So popular I would suggest, that if they stopped using it, it would have risked closure. There was a juke box that never seemed to be quiet for longer than it took to load the next disc, pretty young ladies serving the coffee and a good sandwich when required. An altogether good place to be.

As you might guess, there were more places than mentioned above in such a large and important Garrison village. I'll get on to those in the next part of this look at social life in Tidworth mid to late sixties. Look out for Murder Most Foul amongst other things!!

No Guard Dogs Available? Then Send For A Medic!

2012-03-08T20:52:00.000+00:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
I am aware that from time to time, fellow Operating Theatre Technicians of a similar age to myself, will visit this site. Apart from one that I know of, all the others were trained in places as far flung as Catterick, Aldershot and Colchester. (I have a very very soft spot in my heart for Colchester-two of my children were born in the Colchester Military Hospital there, as well as my passion for Colchester United Football Club, please see the story below about this weeks victory for CUFC)

Suffice it to say, all Operating Theatre Technician training followed the same training syllabus. Where we differed in Tidworth was what we did after training was completed, and in some instances, during training. These include performing Duty Escort duties and staffing the very busy Casualty Department at Tidworth Military Hospital. (See the story below which was published earlier.) There was however, a duty that I am sure was not part of any other Military Hospital based Operating Theatre Technicians CV.

The duty my friends was that of N.A.A.F.I Guard. (For those not familiar with NAAFI, it is an acronym for Navy Army and Air Force Institute, social club and shopping facilities provided to military families and service men and women. In Tidworth during the mid sixties, it was decided that the social clubs and bars needed a bit of an update. Some were rather rundown and smoke stained beyond belief.This included the Hospital Club, which was possibly one of the busier and better subscribed of the bars.

Instead of renovating a whole host of rundown premises, a decision was taken to build a "Super Naffi" that would have several bars, a dance/disco bar area and a new shop and service the whole of Tidworth. At first it took some getting used to, but in the time honoured way, the local soldiers stuck to their task and settled in quite quickly. After a while though, trouble used to erupt, possibly due to the rivalry between the different Corps and Regiments based in Tidworth. Worse was to come. Break ins and damage began to happen. Just from time to time at first, but more frequently after a while. In an effort to reduce problems, soldiers on fire picquet duty nearby were detailed to keep an eye on the NAAFI and Royal Military Police patrols were increased. The success rate achieved by these two new innovations was zero. So what could be done to help prevent the damaging occurrences?

Meetings were presumably arranged (nothing like a good meeting is there?) but more hot air than the average Icelandic geyser might generate was generated. After a while, the penny dropped for at least one of this group of good, great and possibly useless bletherers. Why not put a guard on THE INSIDE? Wow, a breakthrough for mankind and the military. Despite the decision to do so, the issue was not immediately resolved. Just who would be invited to carry out the duty. The REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers turned down the invitation to take on the duty permanently, their guys had other duties such as on standby mechanic in cases of vehicle break downs ( no AA or RAC for the Army you know) The Regiments in place had similar excuses, sorry, good reasons for not volunteering their guys. So, what, or perhaps who, was left?

Hands up who said the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps)? Then you and a hundred others are correct. There was a whole hospital full of Medics after all. They would surely take on the duty. And guess what? Yep, our leaders, unlike the leaders of the other Corps and Regiments, said yes, just like the Man from Del Monte! Not once did they protest that medics had other duties such as night duty, fire picquet, duty escort, duty NCO, Duty OSM etc. No, we were to be assigned to the duty.

Just how were we perform the duty? We were given a mattress, a pen, a notepad, a signing in book and a telephone (not mobile) The idea was that we would patrol the NAAFI on the inside once it had been cleared and then secured. We would go from bar to bar checking for damage or signs of a break in. At midnight, assuming that we hadn't by that time found evidence of a break in, witnessed an attempted break in, been beaten to a pulp by an intruder of made a mess of our underwear, we were allowed to settle down to sleep behind the Reception desk.

I will be totally honest with you. This guard duty was not my idea of a good night out. Not only did I not look like a guard dog, but I could not, nor could I hope to display, the courage and tenacity that a well trained canine beast would. I was timid, shy and retiring and not in the least interested in stopping anyone from breaking in should that be his or their wish. A lone medic does not a hero make. My family motto does not contain any word that might possibly suggest anything other than cowardice. I was not the only one with a dread of carrying out the duty. I will not mention any names, but there was one of our number who had a bad reaction. One night when on duty, he reported a break in. True, the response was swift. Military Police arrived, secured the scene of the "crime" and took control of everything.

The medic on duty was interviewed presumably, and that should have been that. He had apparently done as required and prevented a robbery. The one thing that let him down though was that the glass from the broken window was on the outside of the building rather than the inside. It was later shown that this young man had a problem that required some treatment, which led to his discharge from the RAMC. I don't know anyone who knew this guy who didn't have some sympathy for him. He had been put in a position that he wasn't trained to deal with, anymore than the rest of us had been.

So what did this say about our leaders of the day? Nothing complimenatry I would suggest. The bottom line was quite simply,there are horses for courses. Before despatching the horse on the course, it must be trained to deal with all the problems that might be encountered while treading the course. Some refer to "the good old days." Sadly not all of the old days were "good."

Tedworth House-Phase 1 Opening

2012-02-21T16:37:00.000+00:00

Yesterday, I posted a video about the excellent work being carried out by the charity, Help For Heroes, in Tedworth House.

Today, I thought like to see just a little of the hard work that went into getting Tedworth House ship shape and Bristol fashion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXmuM2-KNUo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Help For Heroes In Tidworth

2012-02-20T15:12:00.001+00:00

Image via WikipediaSo far, I've spent a lot of time talking about the Tidworth of the past. I've also spent some time, albeit a long time ago, talking about Tedworth House. You'll remember that Tidworth started out in life as Tedworth.

Over the years, Tedworth House had fallen into a state of disrepair. Not too badly though, so that it wasn't salvageable. If you watch the attached video you'll be able to see the result of many people's work in turning it into the perfect home for Help For Heroes and the programme set up to work with those members of our Armed Forces that need help to either get back to work within the Armed Forces, or to find their way back into civilian life, as painlessly as possible. The feature was first shown on BFBS Television in November 2011.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2xgrJK-MhM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Casualty! OTT's At Work Outside of the Operating Theatre

2012-02-05T16:59:00.004+00:00

One of the real joys, for me was achieving Operating Theatre Technician Class 1 status. An even greater joy was working in the hospital Casualty Department. Achieving Class 1 status did not automatically invest us with the sudden power of healing the sick or damaged, or even the occasional malingerer. The in depth training which included anatomy and physiology, anaesthetic and emergency routines, combined with the nurse training gained before entering theatre, gave us a substantial level of ability that could be employed in such a place. I wouldn't want anyone running away with the idea that I, and my colleagues were suddenly let loose on an unsuspecting public without supervision and ongoing training and development.Image via Wikipedia

A further skill developed during Theatre Technician training was the correct application of plaster (of Paris) casts for arm and leg fractures or immobilisation required due to persistent Chondromalasia Patellae etc, Back Slabs, Minerva (head/neck immobilisation) Plaster Jacket (spine) as well as making Plaster Beds. As well as the application of casts etc, we were trained in the safe removal of the same. These skills were ideal, as we were able to treat patients in the Casualty Department and reduce waiting times as well as making appointments for them to attend Fracture Clinic or even return to Casualty for review.

The Casualty Department was managed, very efficiently and expertly, by a civilian Sister with many years of experience. Her name;Sister Mary Bonner. Any of my colleagues reading this who spent time at Tidworth Military Hospital, will know of her and her reputation. Her knowledge was legendary. Her ability to manage we Technicians and to ensure that we followed all the then current protocols, was beyond doubt. She ran a very tight ship, ensuring that the emergency areas were returned to a state of total orderliness following an emergency and that the department was always "able to be responsive."

There was, as well as a treatment room, doctors office and store area, an Operating Theatre. It was equipped to the same standards as the main theatre and very busy. Besides its' use as a busy Casualty Theatre, it was used for routine pre-booked minor ops surgery such as Local ties to varicose veins, excision of external hemorrhoids and enucleation of sebaceous cysts. While these cases may not exactly fill everyone with joy, they were the daily bread and butter of a busy General Hospital-and they still are.

As well as the above, Examination Under Anaesthetic (EUA) and Manipulation Under Anaesthetic (MUA) were also popular and frequently performed, by day and by night.

The Hospital was close to the A303, an exceptionally busy road. It was also positioned between Andover and Salisbury and took in its share of casualties from road accidents. It would be easy to spend time listing a whole range of injuries, suffice it to say though, Tidworth Military Hospital Casualty Department performed the same role as bigger hospitals, and just as efficiently. It wasn't just confined to coping with road accidents of course-there was more to it than that. Just like any other similar department it had it's fair share of drunks, overdoses, fractures and so on. It certainly pulled it's weight!!

All in all, the life of an Operating Theatre Technician was a busy one. My favourite times were spent working in Casualty. If I had been given a choice I would have reverted back to nursing and remained a member of casualty staff.

I loved every minute of my experiences in Tidworth. This was not necessarily the case for some of my subsequent experiences.

More "Downstairs" than "Upstairs"

2012-01-18T19:24:00.001+00:00

Image via WikipediaAfter my first couple of years or so in "Mans Service" as it was called back in the so-called swinging 60's, I could have been forgiven for being of the opinion that I had in fact joined a cleaning company rather than a Fighting Machine that was capable of policing troubles the world over. In fairness, I had "travelled", perhaps not to all corners of the globe, but I had seen North Wales, Talacre Beach, Rhyl Seafront, Hollywell on a cold day and Colwyn Bay. Add to this the move to that well known epicentre of excitement-Tidworth.

The Tidworth move I do not regret for one moment. It was, for me, the start of a life long learning curve that stays with me even until today. The hunger for learning has not left me. Sadly, there was the small matter of what I was learning. Largely it was cleaning. This next chapter of Life In The Fast lane, sorry, "Once Upon A Time" will reveal secrets of even more cleaning!!

Cleaning consisted of High Cleaning, Low Cleaning, Cupboard Cleaning, Cardboard Box Cleaning, Needle Tray Cleaning, Scissor Tray Cleaning, Patient Trolley Cleaning, Surgeons Boots Cleaning and.........laundry. Well, someone had to wash and iron the cotton reusable facemasks and theatre caps, so why not get the trainee techs to do it. (I must be fair and say that the Theatre Sisters did their fair share of this last part of cleaning as well as with the needle and scissor trays)

The High (and low) cleaning was oh so much fun! After every list all theatre furniture, including anaesthetic machines, operating tables and suction apparatus etc., was removed to the foyer area, while buckets full of steaming hot soap and water was spread across all floor areas of the theatre, anaesthetic room, scrub up area, laying up room (instrument prep room) and sluice area. It was at this point that it became clear that whoever had designed the suite of rooms had done so with a sense of humour and cunning. Then the builders had been brought on board and persuaded to lay the floors so that they tilted away from the drains, by which route we were challenged to persuade the water to leave. Hands up whoever it was said "I bet the floors were set to drain the water in the opposite direction". Spot on, hole in one so to speak. Still, being almost as devious as the designers etc., we persuaded the water away and into the drains.

Added to the above daily ritual, there was the weekly "Blitzing" to look forward to. same emptying routines, but then out came "The Stirrup Pump". The aim became not only to clean the floor, but the walls as well. A good "stirrup pump aimer" could point the hose bit at the walls while person number two pumped feverishly, with such deliberate aim that the corner was cleaned efficiently without wetting the ceiling. As you might imagine, wetting the ceiling turned the rooms into something approaching a tropical rain forest with it taking hours to stop dripping. Not only were the walls and floors sprayed, but anything that moved was likely to be soaked, i.e, any person foolish enough to enter the room during this procedure was immediately soaked. Not too bad when the water was warm, but as it cooled after hitting you, it was bordering on the cold side to say the least. I always found myself on the pumping end of the procedure. Possibly my aim was found to be suspect.

Cupboard cleaning was an every weekend experience. Tidworth Theatres were blessed with a number of cupboards I never saw equalled, let alone exceeded, throughout the whole of my 23 years and 231 days in Her Majestys Armed Forces, regardless of where I worked. The biggest, and possibly least favourite were the Surgical Instrument cupboards. In the days to which I refer, there were only ever a small number of pre-packed and sterilised instrument sets. There were just a General (basic) set of instruments that were used as a starter kit for cases where an incision was required and added to this was a Tracheostomy Set, Hysterectomy Set and Tonsil Set. All other instruments required for any and all other use, were "sterilised" in the Laying Up room using steam heated water. It was occasionally possible however to construct a set in advance of a pre-planned list or individual case.

In the cupboards were perhaps around 1000 or more instruments, ranging from tiny "Bulldog Clamps" used in fine vascular surgery, to large Aorta Clamps, Amputation Shields and Saws. I know it sounds a little odd, but all techs would have their favourite instrument, based upon it's design. Mine was the Myoma Screw-a beautifully designed and perfectly manufactured "screw" shaped instrument with a handle, used to.....perhaps I should leave it there!!
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Next time I'll be talking about work carried out by the Theatre Technicians outside of the Operating Theatre. Vesatility being the name of the game.

Once Upon A Time......"Time Waits For No Man"

2012-01-06T18:26:00.004+00:00

In the world of learning, there is no time available in which to dawdle, drag your feet, or whatever phrase you choose. In a pressured environment there is always a pressure put upon trainors to ensure the new guys are up to speed as early as possible, while at the same time respecting that to rush headlong into the training programme may lead to things being missed. This could well lead to failure in an individual in a field or local emergency, such as a Major Incident being declared locally.

I will say one thing about every aspect of military, clinical and management training I undertook-willingly or otherwise, it was thorough, complete and always but always validated. What happened after that was down to the individual as to how they performed or responded in whatever situation they found theirselves. I have, in the 43 years since I qualified as an Operating Theatre Technician and the 46 years since I qualified as an Army Trained Nurse, found myself in situations, both emergency and non critical that I should have been capable of managing following the training I received. I have also found myself in emergency and non-critical types of situation, that were not covered in my training. How did I cope? Simply by standing back for a moment-appraising the situation-assessing the job that has to be done-deciding how to deliver what is required and in what order. This has to be done in moments, not minutes and days in an emergency. My training in my roles as a nurse and in theatres taught me this. Not what I should do, but how to "manage" what I must do and quickly. Many of you reading this will know exactly what I mean. This will cover colleagues working as doctors, nurses, physio's, lab techs, pharmacy techs et al.

Returning to my training as an Operating Theatre Technician, which was supervised by senior Techs, Surgeons, Anaesthetists and Sisters, I certainly remember being put through my paces in all areas of the operating theatre. No stone was unturned in ensuring that I received the full works in terms of tips, short cuts, risk assessing and managing what to do first and subsequently, during an emergency situation and pre-empting what others would be doing in such circumstances. The skill in knowing what you and others would be doing was most useful when being called out after normal working hours for emergency surgery.

Tidworth was strategically placed between Andover, Hampshire, and Salisbury, Wiltshire. (I hope I am right geographically-never my strongest subject!) The main road between the two, and passing worryingly close to Tidworth Military Hospital was the A303. The hospital had a busy and well managed casualty department, that was "on take" for blue lights (or blues and two's as they are known now.) The A303 was infamous for the amount of accidents occuring. Many of them were due to the fact that "drinking and driving" was not as well publicised as now, and speed. To be honest, the local roads were just as good at supplying casualties as the A303 at times. Another contributing fact was that seat belts were not in place in my early years in Tidworth. Anyway-back to what I was saying about knowing what to do and what others would be doing. When called out to theatre to attend to casualties, information was sent to you from Reception, giving some details of the situation, this gave you the opportunity to "put your thinking head on" prior to arrival. This invarioubly gave you a good start on arrival. Often the surgeon would be scrubbed up and ready to go just as you finished assembling the "starter kit" of surgical instruments required for the early part of the surgical procedure. If your role on that occasion was to work with the anaesthatist, you had, again, a starter kit of drugs, intubation equipment and so on, so that the patient could reach the operating table swiftly.

All in all, My training was invaluable at the time and subsequently. Don't believe though that it was all blood and gore and excitement. Most of the time was spent carrying out what I found to be boring daily routines that included washing and ironing Theatre Caps and Masks!!!!! In the next part I'll talk about the less than glamorous side of the job.

Once Upon A Time ....................Part 10

2011-12-28T20:11:00.002+00:00

Image via WikipediaFollowing on from Part 9.....Did the Theatre Sgt listen to my plea to get out of theatre? Did he help me to leave? Did he hell!!!!!

Basically it was along the lines of "you've made your bed, now lie on it." In other words-you are stuck, now get on with it. Once you signed up to become an Operating Theatre Technician, you found out that it was what was known as a Restricted Trade. There WAS no get out of jail free card, this was no monopoly game. So what was a poor boy to do? Correct! GET STUCK IN.

My apprenticeship in the Sluice Room was actually far more instructional than I at first thought it might be. It was an excellent place to start learning the identities of the myriad of instruments available to surgeons of different surgical persuasions. In Tidworth, back in the sixties, those "persuasions" or Specialties, were E.N.T (Otorhinolaryngology), General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Gynae, Dental and Trauma. If I have misssed any from the list, I apologise to any surgeon reading this-please don't be offended, it's nothing personal.

Before proceeding, I must pay my respects to some of the Surgeons who passed through the theatres while I was there. Those that stand out in my mind are, Patrick "Paddy" Dignan, (please see the note at the end of this re: Paddy Dignan) Adrian Boyd, Major Owen-Smith and "Pop" Reid. Each was outstanding and a pathfinder in a way, within their specialties, without whom surgery and research in general, may not have benefitted.

I should not forget the Anaesthetists. I remember Col. Cardew, Anthony Booth and Jeremiah Leahy amongst others. They worked very hard, not just in their efforts to stabilise patients and have them ready for surgery at exactly the right moment, allowing surgery to continues non-stop until lists were finished, but to ensure that trainee Technicians benefitted during their formative days in theatre. Col Cardew and Anthony Booth were especially helpful with training.

Now I've mentioned the above, I really must mention the Theatre Sisters. I mentioned three of them in an earlier part of this Blog. The outstanding Sister, in my humble opinion, was Mary Challis. I found her to be strict in her approach to performance and behaviour as well as turn out in theatre. Most of all however, she made sure that training was delivered as required, but even more than that, she ensured that it was received by the individuals learning the trade, by questioning us trainees and ensuring we were on the ball. I sometimes despair that this ensuring that training has been received and validated does not always occur these days.

I'll move forward now, leaving the housework period behind us. Just before I do, I would admit that, just as in the nursing training, if you don't get that background work right, the treatment delivered to each patient might not succeed without infection. Cleanliness IS the key.

After three months the level of Operating Theatre Technician, Class 3 had been achieved. Looking back it doesn't seem to have been much of an achievement, but at that time-I felt good about myself, knowing that I had indeed stuck to the task despite my early misgivings.

One of the advantages of having trained as an Army Nurse, was that a very good knowledge of anatomy and physiology had been gained during that former training. This helped dramatically when surgeons "talked" a trainee through a procedure. It certainly helped knowing the relationship of one internal organ to another when an appendicectomy or other abdominal procedure was being described. Part of the training for Part Two of the three level full qualification, included scrubbing up and just standing at the operating table. (This, apart from, at first anyway, making one feel like a spare appendage at the wedding of a lady of the night, was exceptionally helpful in getting used to scrubbing up and learning to respect the "sterile field") I spent many a time just standing behind the surgeon listening carefully to what was being talked about. Surprisingly enough, not all of what was being discussed was concerning the case in hand!!! Having signed the Official Secrets Act upon joining the Army, I knew not to discuss the details of the latest bit of "gossip" picked up at the table.
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Next time-more of life at the table, and the dangers of not paying attention!!!

Re: Patrick "Paddy" Dignan. He has written a book, "A Doctors Experiences Of Life." by Patrick Dignan.I would reccomend this to anyone who knew him, as well as to those who would like to know of his life as an Army surgeon. It is published by The Pentland Press Limited. ISBN 1 85821 136 0
I got my copy via Amazon, but can be obtained via other reputable booksellers.

Once Upon A Time........Part 9

2011-12-19T21:00:00.003+00:00

I WANT OUT! is how I finished Part 8. I had just gone to start training in Theatre as an OTT. Time now for DAY 2.

I should just say, if anyone reading this is an OTT, I apologise for some of the details, with which you will all be familiar. There are however, a lot of readers trained in other areas of responsibility in the RAMC, for whom the details are included. ....................

My first day in Theatre had passed by in a blur. In truth I was very excited and could hardly wait for the next day to come along. So, bright eyed, bushey tailed and well-breakfasted I headed for work on day two. It being a Tuesday, it was General Surgery, all day.

I was assigned to one of the Corprals. His job for the day was to make sure the Theatre was in good order and ready for all cases that appeared on the Operating List, as well as to keep an eye on me and ensure that I listened to his every instruction, and to learn how to do things as quickly as possible. (I have to say that the only way to learn in those days was quickly-failure to grasp detail at the first time of telling,and, depending on the teaching technique employed by the trainor, could lead to extra sluice and floor scrubbing duties as well as extra on-call duties,as if there weren't enough anyway.) From memory, duties included making sure the scrub-up area was stocked with sufficient Operating Gown Packs, a complete range of surgical gloves from size 6 through to 8, with 6 being the smallest and 8 the biggest. (The range would be different from theatre to theatre depending on the staff membership.) I don't know if any other OTT reading this remembers this, but invarioubly it was the Gynaecologists who wore the largest size!!!. There was also the need to make sure the Post Op dressings tray was topped up and that all any extra Operating Table parts were ready, such as arm tables, hand tables and stirrups.

One of the more critical pieces of equipment to ensure being available was a stool upon which the surgeon would sit for some of the procedures on the list. These might typically include hand and foot surgery, gynae procedures, rectal surgery, or, sometimes just to sit on while waiting for the patient to emerge from the anaesthetic room, hopefully suitably stunned and ready for knife to penetrate skin without the patient jumping off the table!!!. During my first few weeks, I found that the second biggest sin that could be commited as the gopher for the day, was to have to be told to put the stool under the rapidly lowering undercarriage of the surgeon. He always "knew" it would be there so didn't even look round for it. It was always expected that the surgeons' every move was being anticipated by the hopefully fully alert gopher. The FIRST and BIGGEST sin was to whip the stool away before the surgeon was finished with it. Sometimes the surgeon would stand up and have a little rummage around whichever part of the lower end of the body he was servicing, and a quick witted but sadly mistaken gopher would whip the stool away-complete with smile on face, firmly believing he was being efficient. Sadly, on more than one occasion he would be wrong. Only once though, in my career in theatre, did I see a surgeon end up on the floor, letting fly with deletives that could not be deleted. I will not name the surgeon involved, but, I developed an instant respect for him and his knowledge of the English, and possibly several other languages, when it came to cussing.

Having ensured the Theatre was ship-shape, it was off to the sluice to check out such things as stocks of linen bags, rubbish bags, and copious quantities of detergents and soaps with which to clean the floors at the end of the operating list. At this point, my new found friend and tutor made it quite clear that I was to familiarise myself with all the practices of the sluice, as it was to be my new home until it was thought that I had mastered the art of cleaning all things, movable or immovable. Now, where had I heard that before? Oh yes!-when I started my Nurse training.

Before the day was out, I had made up my mind that I was not as happy with my new career as I had hoped. To be perfectly honest, I never did get to like the cleaning aspect of working in theatres, throughout the years between 1968 and 1986. Don't get me wrong, life wasn't all about cleaning, but it did play a massive part in the overall role of the OTT. With training, demonstration to the bosses of competence and subsequent seniority came progression within the organisation, and more opportunity to practice such other skills as teaching and management in the different aspects of managing day-to-day life in the Theatre and ensuring patient safety at all times.

At the end of Day 2 however, I knew nothing of the future and what it would hold for me. I was not going to waste my time cleaning again. I wanted OUT, and damn it, I was going to tell the theatre sergeant this, as soon as he got back from the bookies shop. I was sure he would understand!!

NEXT TIME........ did he understand? did he listen to me?

Once Upon A Time..........Part Eight

2011-12-08T21:07:00.004+00:00

It's my own fault I suppose! I started a series of reminiscenses about the five years I spent in Tidworth at the Military Hospital. I got to the point where I was, at last, starting a new career, this time as an Operating Theatre Technician, and then it all went quiet. I have received quite a number of messages, nay, enquiries, asking when I am going to get on with the series of articles. Oddly enough, most of them come from outside the UK and mainly from Eastern European readers. As a mark of respect to all of you, thanks for your messages and now-Part Eight.
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As with any change, whether it be a change of job, location, role or in the case of a military career, a promotion, life is immediately a challenge. The first few days can even be a maker or breaker period. My first few days in Theatre were close to being a breaker!

To be fair, I was welcomed warmly into the new "family." Each and every person from Stan Jones-Theatre Sgt., through to Jim Goreman, civilian Porter, made my first day one to remember. I had better add here that I remember the first day for all the RIGHT reasons. Stan was an easy going kind of guy, not a bad bone in his body I would suggest. He did have a tendency though to study racing form, rather than what cases were on the operating list! The rest of the team, or as many as I can now remember included: Ken Hudson, Barry Gaukroger, "Chimp" Roberts, Bud Holder, Phil Reeves, a guy called Gartside (first name escapes me,) Phil Olive, John Thomas, Ron Days and others. Not all were senior Techs, some were new but just a little less new than I was. Over the years many more techs came and went, I would need a new Blog to mention all names.

During my first day, I was introduced to the Theatre Sisters, of whom there were two. Please don't ask me who they were. I see faces in my minds eye, but names totally escape me. In all the years I was there, some names remain in my mind for varying reasons. I can think of Mary Challis, Phyllis Broad and Maggie Watson. Of these, I remember two with great fondness. They were good at their own jobs, and able to gain the respect of just about everyone they worked with. The other? Well, lets just say that she made much out of nothing, appeared to dislike all technicians, trusted no-one other than herself, and rather annoyingly, insisted upon scribbling her initials on just about everything, whether it belonged to her or not and whether it was nailed down or not! Those of you reading this and who knew the above three ladies will know to whom I refer.

My first day consisted of "the tour" of the estate, which included a remote Central Sterile Supply Department building, (CSSD) on the other side of the Hospital "square." The theatre suite consisted of an entrance corridor, Foyer, Anaesthetic Room, Laying Up Room, one Operating Theatre, a Sluice room, a Store room and the Sisters office. The CSSD consisted of two conjoined "packing areas" within which were two dependable steam sterilisers and a store area and a tea room. I say the sterilisers were dependable, which they were, until Phil, the electrician/maintenance man came in to do his weekly maintenance, following which they played up for the rest of the day!!! Oh, why can't people just leave things alone I used to think.

There were two more operating theatres besides the main one. The Casualty Department directly beneath main theatre, had a theatre that was used for minor operations and emergency surgery and for MUA's and EUA's. These were Manipulation Under Anaesthetic and Examination Under Anaesthetic. There was also a Maternity Theatre within the Maternity Unit, used for Caesarian Sections and various other pre and post natal procedures.

Before I knew what was what, my first day was over. The highlight of my day? It had to be the dressing up. The change from my Nursing "whites" to theatre "greens" was kind of exciting to a young lad, such as I was then. I felt rather strange in them at first, but that soon went. My only complaint would be that the trousers were supposed to have waist and fly buttons, but many didn't. This meant using a one inch cotton bandage to tie around the waist to keep them up. Safety pins were the order of the day to keep the fly area in good order and under control.

Day two took on a totally new complexion. As with my introduction to life on the wards as a trainee Nurse, cleaning was to play a major part in daily life in the Operating Theatre. Clearly I hadn't done my homework before forsaking my hard earned level of status at nursing level before jumping ship for this new career. If I had I would possibly not have opted for starting at the bottom all over again. Day two started in reasonable style. Tuesday was General Surgery all day. I was "given" to one of the senior techs for the day. He, quite clearly, was not over impressed with the gift bestowed upon him by Stan Jones. I won't mention his name out of fairness to him. After the first case, which I believe was an Inguinal Hernia repair, I was taken out of the theatre itself and into the sluice. No more surgery for me THAT day!!

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Next time-I WANT OUT!!!!!

A little early perhaps, but Happy Christmas To All

2011-12-02T16:49:00.000+00:00

Not the usual Christmas carols or video, but something that brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it. I hope you enjoy it too. Happy Christmas and a very Special 2012 to all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pWDp-cbKX4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Tidworth-From Years Gone By

2011-11-25T19:53:00.001+00:00

As regular visitors will know, I try to include items about Tidworth and surrounding areas that do not neccessarily involve the hospital. So saying, I've got another couple of clips that tell a little of the history of Tidworth.

This clip shows the Royal Engineers at work

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=40576#.TsfBTPEkUnY.email

This shows General Congrieve in Tidworth
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=20503#.TsfAIvcvBds.email

Shortly I will be presenting a short series of items about 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance that spent some time in Perham Down.

New Movies

2011-11-19T15:59:00.000+00:00

Hi to ll,
Two more movies about Tidworth from days gone by. First off-a visit by the American Army in 1968. British troops were in America on a reciprocal visit at the same time. I was in Tidworth at the time of the visit, but can't say that I remeber the visit. Perhaps I was just too busy working inTheatre on days, or on nights in Casualty at the time!!!
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=45570#.Tse_dP3CSEM.email

The second newsreel shows a visit to Tidworth in 1939, of the Queen. The visit was to Her Regiment, The Dragoon Guards. No, I wasn't in Tidworth when this visit took place!!!
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=24280#.TsfCRU5KQ_s.email

The late Jim Harris-At Work as CSM "A" Coy Royal Hospital Chelsea

2011-11-14T19:36:00.000+00:00

Image via WikipediaI have posted the picture at the top of the Blog, of Jim Harris, CSM "A" Company, Royal Hospital Chelsea, as it was possibly the last picture ever taken of him "at Work." I had the honour of being shown around the whole of his "patch" by Jim, before his illness that sadly led to his death. He is pictured wearing shirt sleeve order working dress.

Jim was associated with Tidworth Military Hospital back in the 1970's. If he had been produced by Carlsberg, he might well be described as "possibly one of the most popular Operating Theatre Technicians of all time." No-one I know would argue with that statement.

A Memorial Lunch was held recently to celebrate his life, which was well attended. I did not attend, as I had the honour of meeting him over many many years. He was a regular guest in my home for the best part of 28 years, and was a popular visitor with my children. He also hosted us at his home in Docklands and then in Chelsea before retiring to the Royal Hospital. I celebrated his life with him while he was here. There is not a day goes by when I do not think about him, his friendship and the positive inflence he had on his many colleagues in the R.A.M.C.

If you know of anyone associated with Tidworth Military Hospital, whose life you would like to see celabrated on these pages, please contact me via the Contact button at the bottom of this article. Your contact details will not be seen by anyone other than myself unless you authorise publication.

The R.A.M.C.-Questions In The House Of Commons

2011-11-09T19:32:00.001+00:00

When researching for this Blog, I find so many facts and figures about Tidworth. many are just not publishable because the facts stated cannot be verified, and some cannot be published because of copyright reasons. Today though, when I should have doing jobs allocated to me by my Leader(my wife) I stumbled upon a number of Questions concerning The R.A.M.C, raised in The House(of Commons) in 1920, which were answered by the then Secretary of State for War-Winston Churchill. The keen eyed amongst you will recognise the name of one questioner,Sir William Cheyne, the designer of the beloved Watson Cheyne Double Ended Dissector, 12.5cm or 18cm version. I have published just a few of the questions raised during 1920. They do not neccessarily appear in date order, for which I hope you will excuse me. I found it quite interesting that postings back then could last for up to 10 years, rather than how they are managed these days.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS (OFFICERS IN INDIA).

HC Deb 01 March 1920 vol 126 cc50-1W 50W

Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEY

asked the Secretary of State for War if officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps serving 51W in India are precluded from resigning their commissions; and, if so, what is the reason for this?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL

Instructions have been issued that Regular Royal Army Medical Corps Officers serving in India cannot be permitted to resign their commissions until the statutory date of the termination of the War. This step was rendered necessary by the fact that India is much below peace establishment, and that at present it is not possible to provide Regular Army Medical Corps Officers to replace those who were desirous of

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS (INDIAN SERVICE).

HC Deb 01 March 1920 vol 126 cc43-4 44

105. Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEY

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that many officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps serving in India have been in that country for nine or ten years and appear to have little prospect of relief; and if he will state what steps are being taken to expedite their relief?

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)

There are forty-one officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps still in India whose tour of service has expired, and every effort is being made to release them as other Regular officers become available. Twenty-four officers are under orders to proceed to India, and these will be employed for the relief of tour-expired officers and towards completing the permanent establishment of the Royal Army Medical Corps in India.

....................................

TIDWORTH MILITARY HOSPITAL (MEDICAL OFFICER).

HC Deb 24 February 1920 vol 125 cc1517-8W

Major HENDERSON

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the medical officer employed as nose specialist at Tidworth military hospital has very little surgical experience and that the nursing staff and patients in this hospital have no confidence in this officer's ability; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL

I very much regret that the hon. and gallant Member should have placed this Question on the Order Paper and have thereby given currency to such unfounded complaints as to this medical officer's professional capacity. I find, on enquiry, that he had three years' experience in oral surgery before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps, being resident house surgeon at a general infirmary and later having sole charge of all such patients in the hospital. Since joining the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1915, he has been employed almost entirely on nose and throat cases, both at home and abroad. He has done excellent work as a nose and throat specialist since being appointed to Tidworth Hospital. His commanding officer considers him very able, and is of the opinion that he has the entire confidence of his patients.

....................................

Wot? No Chippie!!

TIDWORTH CAMP.

HC Deb 16 April 1920 vol 127 c2002W 2002W

Lieut.-Colonel BELL

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that considerable feeling exists among the civil population of Tidworth owing to the refusal of the General Officer Commanding troops there to sanction the granting of a site for a fried-fish business; that, when an application for a site was made by a local resident, Mr. Beaver, it was refused on the grounds that there was no demand for such a business, and that thereupon a petition in favour was presented, signed by over 500 people of the neighbourhood, but that the application was refused again, no reason being as signed; and if he will inquire into the matter with a view to inducing the General Officer Commanding to reconsider his decision, and if there are valid reasons for maintaining the decision already given they may be made public?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL

I am making enquiries, and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result as soon as possible

.......................................................

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS (MESOPOTAMIA).

HC Deb 02 March 1920 vol 126 c235 235

§ 26. Sir WATSON CHEYNE

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the grave discontent among the Special Reserve and Territorial Force officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps in Mesopotamia owing to the fact that they cannot get leave, some having spent two, or even three, hot seasons in Mesopotamia without leave; and, especially in view of the prospect of having to spend another hot season there, will he take steps to give relief to these men?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL

Many of these officers, in common with those of the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps and the Indian Medical Service, have leave due to them. This is a matter for the local military authorities, but I would remind my hon. and learned Friend that the granting of leave must necessarily interfere with the release of officers eligible for demobilisation. Regular officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps are being sent out as they become available to replace officers of the Special Reserve and Territorial Force whose demobilisation has been applied for.

§ Captain REDMOND

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not also a fact that the Coalition is going through a hot season?

Below is an article from Wikipedia about Sir William Cheyne.

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Sir William Cheyne, Bt
Sir William as an older man
Born	14 December 1852 Hobart, Tasmania
Died	19 April 1932
Nationality	United Kingdom
Fields	bacteriology

Sir William Watson Cheyne, 1st Baronet KCMG CB FRCS FRS^[1] (14 December 1852 – 19 April 1932) was a British surgeon and bacteriologist, who pioneered the use of antiseptical surgical methods in the United Kingdom, as well as abdominal surgery.
Cheyne was born at sea off Hobart, Tasmania. He came from a humble background. His father, Andrew Cheyne, was a captain in the mercantile marine from Ollaberry, Shetland. His mother Eliza, the daughter of the Rev. William Watson, died in 1856, leaving Willam Cheyne to be brought up by his grandfather, the Rev. William Watson, and latterly by his aunt and uncle-in-law,^[2] in Fetlar. In 1864 he was sent to attend Aberdeen Grammar School until 1868, when he went to King's College, Aberdeen, studying Greek, Latin, English, and Mathematics. By 1870 his uncle and aunt had desired him to be trained for the church, but as his father, his own inclination was for the sea. With the idea that if he became a doctor he could join the navy, he entered the University of Edinburgh where to study medicine in May 1871.^[3] He received degrees in surgery and medicine from there in 1875.
Cheyne became the house surgeon to Joseph Lister, the British founder of antiseptic medicine, in 1876. Bacteriology had been much researched in France and Germany in the 1870s and 80s, but little work was done in the field in Britain. Lister was one of the few pioneers of its study in Britain. In 1877, the two took positions at King's College Hospital, where Cheyne served as an assistant surgeon, and later as surgeon from 1880 to 1917 and also as a professor of surgery from 1891 to 1917. He was a devoted follower of Lister and his antiseptic surgical methods. Cheyne was greatly inspired by the work of German bacteriologist Robert Koch, and had his work Untersuchungen über die Aetiologie der Wundinfenktionskrankheiten (1878) translated for the New Sydenham Society in 1880, which greatly enhanced the acceptance of bacteriology in Britain.^[3] He had a work published in 1882, Antiseptic Surgery: Its Principles, Practice, History and Results, and later in 1885 a book, Lister and His Achievements. The work he did in his early career on bacteria and preventative medicine was highly influenced by Koch, and in Spring 1886, Cheyne visited Koch's laboratory in Berlin and studied his methods.^[4] He undertook many trials on giving doses of tuberculin. He reported his findings to the RMCS in April 1891. He found that giving repeated doses improves the conditions of patients, but rarely acts as a cure. His paper was recognized as the first important contribution to the topic in Britain.^[5] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1894.
Cheyne served as a consulting surgeon for the British military in South Africa from 1900 to 1901. In 1910 he was made the Honorary Surgeon-in-Ordinary to King George V. With the outbreak of world War I he became a consulting surgeon to the Royal Navy in 1914, and in 1915 was for a short time the temporary surgeon general, RN. He was later made Surgeon Rear-Admiral and KCMG.^[3] From 1914 to 1916, he served as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and in 1924 he was awarded the inaugural Lister Medal for his contributions to surgical science.^[3] The following year, he delivered the first Lister Memorial Lecture.^[6]
He was made a baronet in 1908, and having retired from active practice, he was elected in 1917 as a Unionist Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities^[7] and for the Combined Scottish Universities in 1918, holding the seat until he stepped down at the 1922 general election.^[8] He was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland in 1919. Cheyne left London for good in 1922 and retired to Fetlar and resigned his position as lord lieutenant in 1930. He died in 1932 at Fetlar after a prolonged illness.^[3]

[edit] Works

Antiseptic Surgery: Its Principles, Practice, History and Results (1882)
Lister and His Achievements (1885)
Manual of the Antiseptic Treatment of Wounds (1885)
Manual of Surgical Treatment, 7 vol. (1899–1903; with F. Burghard)

[edit] Notes

^ b., W. (1932). "Sir William Watson Cheyne, Baronet. 1852-1932". Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society 1: 26. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1932.0007. edit
^ "Sir William Watson Cheyne" watson-cheyne.com/swintro.htm. Retrieved 1 May 2008
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e W. B (December 1932). "Sir William Watson Cheyne, Baronet. 1852-1932". Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society 1 (1): 26–30. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1932.0007.
^ "Cheyne, Sir William Watson, 1st Baronet." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006.
^ Hunting, Penelope (1 January 2002). The History of the Royal Society of Medicine. RSM Press. p. 150. ISBN 1-85315-497-0.
^ Lister and his Achievement, Sir William Watson Cheyne, 1925
^ Historical list of MPs: E (part 1)
^ Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

[edit] External links

Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir William Cheyne
Biography in Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Online, from the Royal College of Surgeons of England

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Christopher Nicholson Johnston	Member of Parliament for Edinburgh & St Andrews Universities 1917 – 1918	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Combined Scottish Universities 1918 – 1922 With: Dugald Cowan Sir Henry Craik	Succeeded by Dugald Cowan Sir Henry Craik Sir George Berry
Honorary titles
Vacant Title last held by Malcolm Alfred Laing	Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland 1919–1930	Succeeded by Alfred Baikie
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Baronet(of Leagarth) 1908–1932	Succeeded by Joseph Lister Cheyne

Persondata
Name	Cheyne, William Watson
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	14 December 1852
Place of birth	Hobart, Tasmania
Date of death	19 April 1932
Place of death

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