NURSES are often called the backbone of the NHS. In the first of a series of features celebrating the 70th birthday of the NHS, one woman who worked in Bolton for more than 40 years reflects on her time and her uniforms.

CAROLINE Loftus, aged 64, from Harwood, worked as a nurse for 45 years, starting as a student in 1972 at Bolton Royal Infirmary. She adored nursing and really lived her dream.

“I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was three,” she said. By the time she left in January this year, she was well and truly part of the nursing family.

On her first day as a student, she was thrilled to wear the green dress, starched apron and navy coat.

Mrs Loftus spoke fondly of the standards when she started in the 70s, particularly of the uniform, and added they all had to wear the same colour of tights, American tan.

She said: “All the uniform went to the laundry, it was as stiff as anything. The collars used to rub into your neck and you could stand the aprons up. The cuffs were like razor blades, it was a work of art getting ready.”

The ward nurses used to wear Broderie Anglaise hats, which had to be precisely ironed and Mrs Loftus said she used to covet the frilly cuffs.

After qualifying as a nursery nurse, Mrs Loftus started nursing school. She and friend, Shirley McGuinness, loved the Florence Nightingale look but were caught out on their first day when they witnessed an accident.

She said: “We were waiting in Moor Lane for the bus and there was an accident and we knew nothing! It was our first day at the school of nursing, we had to go over but fortunately nobody was injured.”

At the Royal Infirmary, Mrs Loftus remembered the matron she worked under – a Miss Unsworth, who was only ever referred to by her surname.

Mrs Loftus said: “We were frightened to death of her. When she came round the wheels had to be in the same place, the pillow openings had to be away from the door, the hospital corners had to be done.

“She used to walk round in silence and we were silent and so were the patients.”

Mrs Loftus said: “You used to get £2 for every year you worked and at 25 years I went to Prestons. I thought I would have a new nurses buckle, it was like a butterfly and I was so proud of it. The first day I got it one of the patients said I love your belt, is it one of those waspie belts from Bury market? I said ‘What? I got this for 25 years service!’ It was solid silver. I’ve still got it.”

As the years marched on, the uniforms became simpler, with button up dresses and then trousers were introduced.

Mrs Loftus was not keen. She said: “I don’t think they were professional enough. I understand for bending over but you shouldn’t have had your dress so short. The sewing room should have made sure your dress was the right length.”

When the nurses hats went out of fashion it was a dark day for Mrs Loftus. She said: “I was disgusted when they took the nurses hats off us. When someone was confused you used to be able to say ‘you’re in hospital, I’m a nurse, look at my hat’.

As uniforms changed so did nurses’ responsibilities.

Mrs Loftus said: “When I started it was always the nurse does what the doctor tells you to do. And we did, we didn’t question things but as time went on we did.”

When Mrs Loftus started nursing she would never take blood or insert cannulas. Procedures were the domain of doctors.

In 1996 things changed again as the hospital entered the digital age with computers and the Crescendo software for printing out patient plans incorporating the Roper-Logan-Tierney 12 steps daily activities.

Shortly after Crescendo was brought in, the infirmary was absorbed into the Royal Bolton Hospital. When Mrs Loftus joined the hospital, the computers had yet to be introduced, and when they were, Mrs Loftus was called on to teach everyone how it worked.

She added that nurses also enjoyed games of Solitaire on the new computers.

Mrs Loftus retired this year and was overjoyed by the number of people who showed up to wave her off.

Mrs Loftus still works at Royal Bolton but as an out of hospital co-ordinator for Age UK.