Places features

A hospital has been on the site of Broomfield Hospital since 1940, when the County Hospital first opened it's doors.

It has adapted to the ever-changing world of medicine and has grown with our high-tech lives.

During the 1950s, it served as a TB sanatorium, but is now the largest of the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust units, with 800 beds, in and out patient services, A&E and a specialist burns unit.

The nurse

One person who has seen the hospital's development take place is Mary Quinn, who has been a nurse there since 1962.

She came over from Ireland as a trainee nurse and remembers those early days fondly: "The Matron was Irish and very strict. She tended to look upon us as a substitute mother," recalls Mary.

"It seems strange, but we were locked into the nurse's home. We didn't have permission to be out later than 10 or 11pm. We had to have a late pass if we were going to stay out late!

"But by the time we'd been here a couple of years we met a certain person who'd got a key for us and we could help ourselves in."

The patient

During the 1950s the hospital served as a TB sanatorium. The 'cubicles', as the wards were known, are now used as offices, but Alan Knight remembers that time, when he spent nine months there as a patient.

The hospital's staff pose for a photo in 1949

"Each ward had eight single cubicles which were used for patients having bed rest and sliding doors which opened onto the veranda," remembers Alan.

"I was here for nine months and the only days we managed to have the doors shut was on a very foggy day!"

"On the really cold nights you'd wake up in the morning and the glass of water on the bedside cabinet would have a layer of ice on the top!"

The boss

Ensuring this kind of thing does not happen in the 21st Century is the Chief Executive Officer of Broomfield and all Mid-Essex hospitals, Ruth May.

Ruth was the first women to hold the position and, having trained as a nurse over 20-years-ago, was the first clinician in the role.

CEO Ruth May takes a hands-on apporoach

"I was a nurse with attitude and a nurse who actually wanted to make a difference and I thought I could," she says of her decision to go into management.

"It does make it easier talking to doctors, nurses, frontline staff and patients when you've got a nursing background. It also works that the wool doesn't get pulled over my eyes."

"It's fun. It's tough. But it's a great ship to be captain of," she adds.

Since taking charge of the 'ship', Ruth has targeted the issue of cleanliness and will often check the state of the wards herself.

"We've invested £900,000 on more cleaners and some new equipment and making sure that there are over double the hours of cleaning on the wards now, compared to what there was," she explains. 

Arguably the biggest challenge Ruth faces in the next few years is the opening of the new hospital in August 2010.

The volunteer

One person looking forward to the new premises is the manageress of the League of Friends shop, Jenny Gillingham, who'll be hoping to have a slightly larger area to work in.

Jenny has been involved with the shop, which currently lives by the entrance to the south-wing, for ten years - providing refreshments, magazines, sweets etc., for staff, patients and visitors.

The new-look hospital is due to open in 2010

"It's a non-profit making charity and everything we make we give back to the hospital," explains Jenny.

"It goes towards furniture for new parts of wards, to very big pieces of machinery. In 2007, £71,000 was raised through the shop and donations."

Jenny has had a lot of help from the hospital, both for herself and also her late father, which is a big reason for her volunteering there.

"I feel really loyal to Broomfield and always want to give something back," she says.

"Because you never know who - your parents, family or friends - are going to be rushed in here and need your help."