Noel Dempsey: Orthopaedic Hospital, Working Life, Healthcare

0.00.00 - 0.03.07

Connections with the Orthopaedic Hospital

Noel speaks about his connection with the Orthopaedic Hospital where he was employed for a number of years. He outlines the various blocks and their uses at the hospital, including hip operations, physiotherapy, burns, the lady's ward, nursing home, men's ward etc. He explains that at the entrance to the hospital was a lodge which housed the caretaker and his family. When Noel began working at the hospital, the Twomey family lived in the lodge. He also explains that the nurses had their own quarters, as many were from Kerry and other counties.

Noel holds that the hospital was built in 1955 as a fever hospital (which is why the blocks were separate). After Sarsfield Court (St. Stephen's Hospital, Glanmire) took on the responsibilities for fever patients, the orthopaedic hospital was developed.

0.03.07 - 0.06.54

Early Memories

Noel speaks about living close and working at the Orthopaedic Hospital. He recalls walking around the grounds of the hospital when he was a child, in an area known locally as 'the Woods'. He remembers how busy the hospital became in the 1970s and 1980s. He recalls the laundry operation at the hospital which catered for all other hospitals in Cork and affirms that there were many marriages which were based on relationships that began in the laundry.

0.09.41 - 0.12.24

Working at the Hospital

Noel outlines his working life at the Orthopaedic hospital. He first worked as an attendant 'on the blocks' and outlines the nature of this work. Noel remembers being asked after a number of years if he would try working in Theatre. He outlines that the sister (Sr. Mary Agnes Buckley) who was in charge of theatre was reportedly 'very tough to get on with'. He speaks about subsequently working for many years in theatre where his wife also worked.

He speaks about the many Sisters who were in charge of the various wards. Noel states that they seemed to have a different classification to other nuns and were always describes as 'Sisters'. Noel speaks about the various personnel that made up the hospital staff including laundry staff, physios, attendant, nurses, x-ray staff etc.

0.10.45 - 0.13.45

Patients

Noel speaks about life for patients in the hospital, many of whom were long term patients. Refers to people with back problems who would be 'put on traction' which often meant six to eight weeks lying in the one position with weights hanging from their legs. He also recalls that there were a lot of bad burn victims in the hospital and recalls a bad car accident in which three Limerick men were badly burnt and ended up at the hospital. The hospital also treated patients with scoliosis and polio. Outlines the process of a 'frog plaster', which was used to treat children with hip problems.

Note:  A 'Frog Plaster' was a plaster of paris splint used to maintain the legs in their correct position after a congenital dislocation of the hip has been corrected by manipulation.

0.13.45- 0.17.33

Work life

Noel tells a story about his time working in the surgical theatre which reveals the process of bringing patients into the theatre while preserving the sterile environment. He recalls a humorous story about a young boy working as an attendant who had delivered a patient to the theatre door and was told by the Sister in charge to 'go for your lunch'. Noel reveals that it was 8.50am and the Sister meant for him to take his ten minute break. The young boy went home for an hour for his lunch to the confusion of his mother and the frustration of the Sister in Charge.

Noel outlines how young people got employment at the hospital. He explains that all you had to do was 'put your name down' for a job and after a time you could be called to cover an employee who was out sick. After a trial period Noel was kept on as an attendant and later a theatre technician.

0.17.33- 0.27.06

Theatre Technician

He outlines his work as a theatre technician which involved holding patients who may be having hips dislocated and removing plasters etc. Recalls the various surgeons including Fred Moore, Kevin Murphy and Senjan (sic.) O'Connor who operated on different days at the hospital.

Speaks about employment at the hospital and states that his brother Michael Dempsey who now works in Heather House, a nursing home.

Note: Heather House is situated on the north side of the city in a residential area about 2 miles from the centre of Cork city on the campus of St. Mary’s Health Camus (formerly St. Mary Orthopaedic Hospital in Gurranbraher).

0.21.06 - 0.31.07

Night Shifts and Carrying Corpses

Speaks about the nature of working night shifts at the hospital and the logistics around keeping the hospital heated with turf and coal etc. There was a Night Sister who was in charge of the whole hospital. At. 2.00am attendants would go through each ward (With the Night Sister) to ensure all patients were attended to and that everything was in order.

'Everybody seemed to die in the night-time at their weakest'.

Speaks about deaths in the hospital. Speaks about carrying corpses in the hospital during the night to the mortuary. He recalls a young man who had just started working at the hospital when Noel and he were asked to bring a corpse to the mortuary. Noel explains how nervous the young man was about seeing a dead person for the first time. He recalls the various challenges of bringing the corpse to the mortuary and having to be accompanied by a nurse.

0.28.50 - 0.31.42

Variety in Work

Noel outlines the varied nature of working at the hospital which ranged from making breakfast to regularly turning patients.

0.31.42 - 0.38.19

Best Memories

Noel reflects on his work at the hospital and affirms that leaving the job in the hospital to work as a builder was 'the biggest mistake I ever made in my life'. He recalls how fascinating it was to observe surgeons and the overall variety of work. He states that the rate of pay was very poor which led him to leave the job. Discusses briefly the wages and overall economy of his work life.

0.36.15 - 0.43.37

New Developments

Speaks about the development of the Orthopaedic Hospital and the new Primary Care Centre. Speaks about the local devastation when the Orthopaedic Hospital was closed. Speaks about the community nature of the hospital declaring 'everybody knew everybody'. Explains the importance of the hospital before its closure.

'It's fabulous to see it brought back to life again'. Noel speaks about the positivity associated with the new development locally but he does state that a lot of people don't seem to be aware of what the current development entails. Speaks about the potential positive benefits for the areas and outlines some of his concerns regarding traffic. Joanne McNamara concludes the interview by providing an overview of what the development will be with the new Primary Care Centre.

Interview Ends