A heartwarming donation of a 1948 student nurse's notes and books
Posted on: 29th November 2023
Visitors to the Johnson Community Hospital in Spalding may have already seen the exhibition of medical memorabilia on display in the foyer and further items have now been added.
The additional items commemorate the contribution of Maureen Dennis who began training as a nurse when the NHS first began.
Maureen Dennis nee Mason was born in Moulton Chapel on 26 April, 1932 and began her nursing training at Queen Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Surrey in 1948, just a couple of months after the NHS was founded.
Maureen passed away in 2021 and the items have kindly been donated by Maureen’s very proud family. Maureen’s husband, Trevor Dennis, said: “Maureen loved being a nurse and we thought it fitting that the Johnson should have these books. People will be able to see them and hopefully the nurses will enjoy and learn from them and her memory will live on.
“She was a wonderful nurse who was really one of the pioneers of modern nursing. Maureen devoted herself to the profession and those patients she served. We are immensely proud of her.”
Maureen was just 16 years old and embarked on training which would eventually see her working in the old Johnson Hospital on Priory Road.
The training she received was rigorous and detailed and her family are delighted that her first student notebook, written in her immaculate handwriting and her textbook will be on display at the Johnson Community Hospital.
Danielle Holton, Outpatient Clinical Team Lead said: “We are honoured that Maureen’s family have donated these precious items to the hospital. It’s wonderful to be able to look back at these and I know many of our patients and staff members will enjoy looking at them. Thank you to Trevor and all his family for this donation.”