Gwendoline Kirby

Gwendoline Kirby0:00

This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.

Presenter0:08

Now, with children, even more than with adults, reassurance and security must play a very big part in achieving a cure.

Gwendoline Kirby0:17

Yes, this is perfect to draw.

Gwendoline Kirby0:19

We try to give it through the parents visiting and the nurses understanding the children.

Presenter0:25

Yes. In recent years it's it's been realized that the old system of only allowing mothers to visit their children briefly at certain times was wrong.

Gwendoline Kirby0:33

Yes, and again we've tried to overcome this by having unrestricted visiting for the parents. And they certainly can come in.

Presenter0:40

Yeah.

Gwendoline Kirby0:42

in the morning and right through the day until the evening.

Gwendoline Kirby0:45

Very often father calls in on his way to work,

Gwendoline Kirby0:48

and very often again after he's finished his day's work.

Presenter0:51

Yes.

Presenter0:52

So really mothers can be trained to help the nurses.

Gwendoline Kirby0:55

Oh yes, mothers and fathers too. Sometimes fathers are asked to bath the children.

Presenter0:59

Ha ha ha ha.

Gwendoline Kirby0:59

Whether they like it or not, I don't know, but they do.

Presenter1:02

In certain cases can mothers stay in the hospital.

Gwendoline Kirby1:05

Yes, we're very limited for space, but we are trying to build some new quarters where the mothers will be able to stay with the children. We have, of course, some rooms for distressed parents.

Presenter1:14

Yeah.

Gwendoline Kirby1:17

and also for nursing mothers if they're feeding their babies.

Presenter1:20

How do you keep the children occupied? Are there plenty of toys?

Gwendoline Kirby1:24

Oh, there are plenty of toys, yes.

Gwendoline Kirby1:26

and the children are encouraged to get up as much as they want to.

Gwendoline Kirby1:30

And if a child can run around and play on its own, then there's usually very little crying, and they settle in very quickly indeed.

Presenter1:36

Mm-hmm. The toys, I presume, come from private donors, uh not from the National Health Service.

Gwendoline Kirby1:41

Oh no, we we were very fortunate indeed, Great Warm Street.

Gwendoline Kirby1:45

We have many gifts.

Gwendoline Kirby1:47

and I'm writing thank you letters almost every day.

Gwendoline Kirby1:50

for toys and flowers and fruit.

Gwendoline Kirby1:52

which come in

Presenter1:54

Do you have voluntary workers to to read to the children and so on?

Gwendoline Kirby1:57

Yes, we do. Uh we are hoping to start up a new scheme.

Gwendoline Kirby2:01

For voluntary workers,

Gwendoline Kirby2:03

But of course most people who

Gwendoline Kirby2:05

Again to give their time, can only give it in the evenings, and by this time the children are usually tucked up.

Presenter2:08

Mother

Presenter2:11

Peace.

Gwendoline Kirby2:11

And so it's difficult for them to come.

Presenter2:13

Aren't there lessons for children who are getting better?

Gwendoline Kirby2:16

Yes, we have uh

Gwendoline Kirby2:18

Quite a number of school teachers and the s the children have their proper lessons during the morning and the afternoon.

Gwendoline Kirby2:25

And these they enjoy, they like this very much.

Presenter2:28

And the old big ward system has gone, hasn't it?

Gwendoline Kirby2:31

Yes, this hospital was planned.

Gwendoline Kirby2:34

to have a small break up award.

Gwendoline Kirby2:37

We have kubcours for the babies under one year.

Gwendoline Kirby2:40

and then a small ward of six for the older children.

Presenter2:44

Now the sight of a sick child any sick child is distressing. You have four hundred and fifty or more always in your care.

Presenter2:51

Um the majority of them are going to get well, but some despite all the skill and love that can be extended to them.

Presenter2:57

Aunt, isn't the hardest part of your job to keep in check the emotional side of your nature?

Gwendoline Kirby3:03

Yes, I think it is, and of course this is one of the very great difficulties that a young student nurse, when she comes into a hospital like Great Ormond Street, has to face up to right from the very beginning.

Gwendoline Kirby3:15

But I think it's more

Gwendoline Kirby3:17

A matter of acceptance than glossing over the fact and trying to subdue one's emotions.

Gwendoline Kirby3:25

I think if one could accept

Gwendoline Kirby3:27

The fact

Gwendoline Kirby3:28

and get encouragement and courage from the parents, then this helped tremendously.

Presenter3:40

Now at Christmas, as at every other time of the year, the hospital for sick children is full. Despite the fact they're in hospital, you've still managed to give them a pretty good Christmas, don't you?

Gwendoline Kirby3:49

Oh yes, I think they thoroughly enjoy it.

Gwendoline Kirby3:51

And although you've said that the hospital is full, of course we do let any child who can go home for Christmas go home.

Gwendoline Kirby3:58

But we do have many children, of course.

Gwendoline Kirby4:00

And Christmas starts quite a fortnight before December the twenty fifth. In the hospital we have a nativity play which is given by the nurses and mem other members of the staff, and the children take part as well.

Gwendoline Kirby4:14

And then we have a Christmas show, which is

Gwendoline Kirby4:18

produced by the medical staff.

Gwendoline Kirby4:20

And it's always great fun.

Gwendoline Kirby4:23

And then on the morning of Christmas Eve,

Gwendoline Kirby4:26

The nurses get up very early indeed.

Gwendoline Kirby4:28

and go off to Covent Garden.

Gwendoline Kirby4:30

Where they are very spoilt, they come back with barrow loads, literally barrow loads, of fruit and vegetables and nuts, which the Covent Garden porters very generously give to them.

Presenter4:41

Mm-hmm.

Presenter4:43

And on Christmas Day?

Gwendoline Kirby4:44

And then on Christmas Day, of course, um the nurses start by singing carols. They wake us all up with

Gwendoline Kirby4:50

There are carol singing.

Gwendoline Kirby4:52

And then Father Christmas comes. He comes down the main drive at the hospital, usually pulled down on a sledge.

Gwendoline Kirby4:59

drawn by the thirteenth, who are dressed up as fairies or some form of animal.

Gwendoline Kirby5:05

And then he visits every child in the hospital.

Gwendoline Kirby5:09

And then they have Christmas.

Gwendoline Kirby5:12

Dinner?

Presenter5:12

Yes, turkey and plum pudding and pepper hats and crackers all are fixing it.

Gwendoline Kirby5:15

Yes, and the consultants come and carve the turkey.

Gwendoline Kirby5:19

And then everyone usually goes to bed quite early that day.

Presenter5:22

Now Sir James Barry gave the rights of Peter Pan to the hospital, so you always have a visit from Peter.

Gwendoline Kirby5:28

Yes, we do, and this is very popular.

Gwendoline Kirby5:31

Peter Pan and Wendy, and of course Nana.

Presenter5:34

JULET CAPTIN HOOKIN

Gwendoline Kirby5:35

No, not often. He has rather scared some of our toddlers at times.