A NURSE from Enniskillen has contributed stories of her nursing career to a new book which has just been released.
Jackie Packham, MBE was one of those who told their stories in ‘Nursing Voices from the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Between August 1969 and April 1998, more than 3,600 people were killed and thousands injured during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
For the health care professionals who cared for the victims, the worst of times brought out the best in people. Nurses rose to the challenge of caring for their patients, from whichever ‘side’ they came, often under very testing conditions.
Compiled by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) History of Nursing Network in Northern Ireland and published by RCN Publishing, Nurses’ Voices from the Northern Ireland Troubles documents, for the first time, nurses’ experiences during this period.
The book was launched by Health Minister, Edwin Poots, at the Guildhall, Derry to celebrate its status as the UK City of Culture.
Nurses cared for their patients under extremely testing conditions, from hospital wards under guard by security personnel who often became the target, to community interfaces where staff had to negotiate barricades in order to see their patients at home.
Throughout it all, they showed patience, determination, fortitude and courage.
Margaret Graham, Chair of the RCN History of Nursing Network in Northern Ireland, jointly edited the book.
She said: “This is the first time that nurses have had the opportunity to show the impact the Troubles had on their professional and personal life.
“As a small group, we arranged events all over Northern Ireland inviting nurses to come and tell their stories. For every story told in the book there are hundreds still untold.
“In telling these stories we hope to have documented a piece of history that shows the resilience of the nursing workforce as they carried out their roles, day in, day out holding the hands of the dying, treating the wounds of the injured and supporting the recovery of all those affected by the conflict.”
Nurses’ Voices includes stories of dealing with atrocities such as the Abercorn, McGurk’s Bar, Shankill and Omagh bombs as well as outlining what it was like to work in A&E as the Troubles began and dealing with sectarian tensions while nursing in the community and on hospital wards.