How the times have changed

It has been 20 and 25 years respectively since nurses Madge Alford and Lyn Jackson reported to Rockingham General Hospital for their first shifts in the emergency department.

Back then, the Elanora Drive facility was a small country hospital, with just one nurse posted overnight to monitor the comings and goings of Rockingham’s sick and injured, clinical nurse Mrs Jackson said.

She said a lot had changed in 25 years, most significantly the number of patients who now walked through its doors.

“When I first started at Rockingham, it was just a small country hospital and nurses were required to look after the patients, of course, but also to answer the phones and meet people at reception,” she said. “That’s all changed now — and we have seven nurses on duty at nights to cope with the high numbers of people we see.”

Mrs Jackson said there were much fewer staff in the beginning and, in turn, much fewer emergencies.

She said waiting times for patients were much longer today, but promised that the high-quality and dedicated care they received, was worth the wait.

“When a patient comes to Rockingham, they receive holistic treatment, including social support,” she said.

“In emergency, we use a triage system to ensure those who are the most sick are seen first.”

Emergency area manager Madge Alford, who accepted a nursing position 20 years ago, said nurses, old and new, still got together regularly to swap stories and memories.

Executive director Geraldine Carlton said annual staff service awards recognised the dedicated and committed staff who make a valuable contribution.