Danish nurses revisit Oxford hospital where they trained in the 1970s

The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre recently welcomed back eight nurses from Denmark who trained at the hospital in the 1970s.

The nurses, now retired, were invited to see how the centre has developed over the past five decades.

Since their time at the centre, it has undergone significant changes in infrastructure, administration, policy, and practice.

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (Image: Google maps)

The nurses had a small and intimate walk around the centre to see their first workplace and were impressed by the development.

Helle Busch Carlsen, one of the visiting nurses, said: "Over the decades we stayed in touch – one way or another. And now that we are all retired, we were keen to come back to where it all started.

"We first came here in our late teens and early 20s, as a bunch of excited young Danish ladies to pursue their dreams of becoming nurses one day.

"This was the first step of our careers and an amazing experience, despite all the challenges.

"Even though everything is different now, being back at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre has been a fantastic trip down memory lane."

She added: "We are impressed by the development here, especially in clinical areas – to take the initiative to constantly improve is admirable. I wouldn't mind being here again."

Becky Easton, one of the matrons at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, briefed the nurses about the developments in patient care, digitalisation, staffing models, and becoming a member of staff in orthopaedics in more recent times.

She said: "The enthusiasm of these nurses and keenness to learn about the changes that the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre has undergone was catching.

"It is fascinating to envision the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre we have today through the memories of these nurses that worked here in the 70s in a completely different environment – with completely different wards and practices.

"They were curious to understand what it is like to be a nursing and clinical staff today – asking about the wards, theatres, bed capacity, staffing measures, and shift patterns."

Suyin Mills, directorate PA for trauma and orthopaedic, spoke to the nurses about the major estates, administration, and services changes over the last 50 years.

She said: "Institutions like the directorate Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre are living institution – ever evolving.

"I have been working here for years now, but this visit gave me an opportunity to look deeply into all the development the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre has undergone over the decade.

"Meeting the nurses and discussing the changes with them was like opening a time capsule.

"It is refreshing to have an understanding the immensity of the evolution healthcare and health staff has gone through."