Once Upon A Time.....Part 7-Going To The Theatre!

Image via WikipediaAt the start of this series of occasional articles about my early days in the Royal Army Medical Corps.(R.A.M.C) and my first "grown-up" posting being Tidworth Military Hospital, I also told of how I wanted to become an Operating Theatre Technician (OTT) and how the R.A.M.C appeared to be trying hard to deter me. I must admit, it did make me think a little from time to time whether my choice had been the right one from the very outset.

You might remember that I had given up my previous and very promising post as Village Idiot in Twyford, Buckinghamshire, in order that I could devote my life to my Queen and Country as a non-combative Medic and OTT. Why? Why ask me?-I truly do not have a clue other than I lived near to the town of Bicester, which was a Garrison Town and from time to time I saw soldiers in small armoured car things, rushing around the countryside. I also saw a photo of someone dressed in Theatre "whites", in a recruiting booklet. I immediately decided that "rushing around the countryside," either with or without a small armoured car thing, was not the life for me. Far too much like hard work I decided. (To be honest with you, I still consider that despite my age and experiences, I have still not done a hard days work in my life when I compare it with what my modern day counerparts do in situations that I never had to face, as well as those I served with. I can only say here that I feel very humble and have massive respect for each one of them. The name Pierre Naya comes to mind. There are others of course. For those who don't know of him, I refer you to my note at the end of this.)

 Village Idiot I might have been, but work was not for me. SO, the only choice left open to me was the Operating Theatre. An OTT I would be-all in good time of course.  

I received a message one afternoon while I was working on Surgical Ward 1, or Douglas Ward as it had be re-branded, advising me to visit the office of the Orderly Seargeant the next morning, at 8.30 am. I immediately went over my recent actions and activities in an effort to remember anything I might have done wrong. Nought came to mind, except for the moment when, two days earlier I had told one of the slop jockeys in the cookhouse precisely what I thought of the corned beef hash, which as far as I could see, was corned beef free!! Following our brief but meaningful exchange, he decided to rename it Hoover Hash. "All the muck, all the s--t, Hoover will get rid of it." Words similar to those were being used to advertise the latest vacuum cleaner to hit the market. I think the intimation here was that his has hash had performed a similar feat, and vacuumed all the muck and all the s..t, with the exception of course of corned beef, that happened to be left lying around. (To be fair, the cook was pretty good at his job normally-he went on to teach at the ACC Depot (not neccessarily a recommendation I acknowledge) and eventually to working in Royal residences.  

Anyway-back to me. I turned up as summoned and was met by the Orderly Sergeant Corporal (yes-I'm still puzzling over that one!!) It was soon made clear to me that my nursing career was finished, despite my studying day and night, and attaining my nursing certificates, I was to enter THEATRE. How was I going to break the news to the Sister in charge of S1 (Douglas) Ward? The Orderly Sergeant Corporal said it had all been taken care of. He also went on to tell me of the smile that broke out on her face when he promised her he was not joking and that, yes, I was leaving after my late shift on Saturday. (Possibly a little too much information there, although the significance of what he said didn't hit me until about 5pm that day!!!) Not to worry, come Monday morning a new world was to be mine. I would soon take to the new environment-fit in with the rest of the staff, and of course, find no problems with all that would be coming my way in terms of training and cleaning-cleaning and cleaning, and of course! cleaning and cleaning.

Next time-What happened when I started my first day in Theatre and how once again I asked myself the question-What the hell am I doing Here?

(I referred earlier to my former colleague, Pierre Naya. I would heartily recommend the following book to you, which will tell you better that I can, of his acts of heroism.

Title "MEDIC."
Authors, John Nichol & Tony Rennell
Published by the Penguin Group
ISBN 978-0-670-91604-7
It can be bought or ordered from any of the reputable book sales shops as well as on-line from Amazon or other on-line stores