'A shocking state'

Pam describes the circumstances that led to her being invited, in 1976, to step in and help turn around the neglected and failing Hackney Hospital.

Poverty of life

Pam describes how, on her first day at the hospital, she met a very old woman - a long-term resident of the continuing care ward - who longed simply for the chance to lie outside in the sunshine. "That was the sort of poverty of life the old people had there," says Pam. She describes some of the ways in which she set about improving the quality of life for the elderly people in her care.

High standards

Hackney Hospital was rundown and short of staff because no one was prepared to spend money on it, and it was already earmarked for closure. Pam believed this was letting the patients down - "they're your patients, and you get the best for them." Here she talks about the importance of keeping up standards, and the difference that a well-maintained environment can make to people's attitudes and morale.

Pressure sore research

Pam was horrified by the extremely high incidence of pressure sores at the hospital, which in some cases were life-threatening. Here she describes her groundbreaking research into the problem.

Something to look forward to

In her quest to improve the lives of the elderly people at the hospital, Pam applied for a grant for a social secretary. It was an unusual request, and the Mercers Company had never been asked for anything like this before. But after a visit to the hospital, when Pam took them to meet some of the "delightful, funny, entertaining" patients, they were more than happy to give her the money. The social secretary set about organising trips and activities for the old people to make sure that they would always have something to look forward to.

A place like nowhere else

At the Hackney Hospital "there was a different thing happening every day," remembers Pam. Here she recalls some of the things - good and bad - that gave it its special character.

Moving hospital

In 1986, Hackney Hospital was superseded by the Homerton, and Pam was there to oversee the move. Here she describes what a job it was to persuade the nurses to leave their old clutter behind and get ready to work in a whole new way.

Designing new wards

Pam decided to get the patients and the wider community involved in designing the new wards for the Homerton. Here she describes how she got everyone involved, and the plans they came up with.

Accident and emergency

Pam tried to "humanise" the A&E with pictures and fishtanks, and make it safe with the presence of a security guard, but it was still an unpredictable place. Here she describes an incident that took place there.

Remembering the past

For many old people, Hackney Hospital still carried the associations of the workhouse, and for this reason Pam felt that its move to a new site was a good thing. Yet she feels strongly that the history of old hospitals should not be forgotten, and that we should remember how much more difficult life used to be for the poor and sick. Here she talks about memories of the past, and describes an old nurse's record book from the Eastern Hospital that she found.

Closure of the Mothers'

Pam was involved in the closure of the Mothers' Maternity Hospital in 1986. Here she talks about the factors that influenced this decision, and why an isolated maternity hospital run by a religious charity was no longer considered appropriate in Hackney.

Out on strike

During the 'winter of discontent' of 1978-9, the hospital was hit by industrial action, as porters, catering and laundry staff all went out on strike. Here Pam describes how she stopped the nurses from walking out in sympathy, and made sure that the welfare of the patients came first.

Summing up

Pam's years at Hackney Hospital were the time in her career when she was happiest, "scruffy old place" that it was. Here she considers why it was such a great time, and what she and her staff achieved there - driving up the standards, improving care of the elderly, exploring what was best for the patients' needs, and helping to develop the confidence, enthusiasm and professionalism of the nurses in her charge.