Maura O’Connell: Orthopaedic Hospital, Working Life, Healthcare

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Title

Maura O’Connell: Orthopaedic Hospital, Working Life, Healthcare

Subject

Ireland; Cork; Gurranabraher; Healthcare; Occupational Lore:

Description

Maura was matron of the Orthopaedic Hospital for 20 years until her retirement in 1997. In this interview Maura recalls the various roles she had in the hospital prior to her being appointed matron.
Maura recalls that the nurses residents on the grounds of the hospital and comment that it was very upmarket for its day.

Maura then talks about the first hip operation that took place in the hospital, that of a young woman who was 'delighted to be able to wear Cuban heeled shoes'.

She then focuses on her time as matron, where she was responsible for around 200 nursing staff. Maura thinks she would hate working today due to inadequate staffing numbers.

Maura than reminisces about past patients, like the children who were severely disabled from contracting Polio.
She also mentions the likes of Joe Mac and The Dixies coming in on Christmas day to to entertain the staff and patients.

Maura then describes the layout of the hospital and the campus.

Date

6 June 2017

Identifier

CFP_SR00626_oconnell_2017

Coverage

Cork, Ireland, 1960s-1990s

Relation


Published Material:

MacConmara, Tomás for the Cork Folklore Project (2018) The Ministry of Healing, St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital Cork: An Oral and Historical Record. Cork: Health Service Executive.

Source

Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Language

English

Type

Sound

Format

1 .wav File

Citation

Cork Folklore Project , “Maura O’Connell: Orthopaedic Hospital, Working Life, Healthcare,” accessed March 29, 2024, https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/159.