Tosh shares her fondest memories from her time at The Royal London Hospital
Tosh Denholm is a Senior Sister who has worked at Barts Health for 35 years. She kindly offered to share some insights into her amazing career at the trust and her fondest memories.
Tosh said: “I trained in Oxford at the John Radcliffe School of Nursing 1970-1973. On moving to London in 1974 I worked for a while at Habitat and did a little travelling before starting in the operating theatres at St Mary’s, Paddington.
“I left nursing in 1980 to take up a place to study Fine Art at The Byam Shaw School of Art. In 1985 I moved to the east end where I had bought a flat in Stepney. The London Hospital was close to my new home, so I rang and asked about nursing posts.
“There was just one sister post vacant at that time and it was for Outpatients, so I thought, why not? 35 years later I am still in Outpatients.
“I can remember back in the ‘80s walking between the hospital and home and thinking this is the friendliest work and home environment. The London was the centre of the east end community and people were, and are, proud to call the hospital their own.
“Then in July 1990 the Queen came for a visit and announced that the hospital would be known as The Royal London Hospital and it was really was a great day for us all!
“We were each given a silver spoon to commemorate that day and I still have mine! In the early noughties the role of Matron emerged, and I was appointed to this post for Outpatients for both The Royal London Hospital and Barts. There was no one appointed as an Outpatient Matron for Whipps Cross or Newham Hospital, so I split my time between those sites as well, making some new and interesting colleagues and friends.
“The staff in this trust can be extraordinarily welcoming and kind. The big move into the new build at Barts and then The Royal London Hospital were the most challenging projects I have ever been involved with”.
Tosh decided it was time to take retirement, however changed her mind and returned within just a few weeks as a Senior Sister. She teased: “It’s very civilised to come into work for just two days a week”.
Tosh reflected on a special memory she has from her time at Barts Health: “On 12 October 2015 we remembered the 100 years since Edith Cavell was executed for treason during the First World War. Edith Cavell trained here at The London Hospital around the turn of the century and then founded a School of Nursing in Brussels.
“Nurses from The Royal London Hospital, as it is now, have laid a wreath at her statue every year since the statue was erected in 1920. I have the privilege of being the person who organises this event and I have the collection of the old uniforms stored safely at home”.
Like many NHS staff, Tosh was asked to redeploy into the Bereavement Office during the pandemic. She said: “In those first few months we were so busy, I changed my hours and came in almost every weekday. The relatives that we spoke to had such a terrible experiences, with not being able to be with their loved ones as they were dying. But the resilience and dignity displayed by many of these relatives was truly humbling to encounter.
“It has been a pleasure too, to see the medical staff coming from the wards to write their certificates; we have tried to make the Bereavement Office a bit of a quiet haven away from the hectic wards.
"I am so pleased I returned from retirement and I am able to be part of The Royal London's 280th Birthday!"
Thank you, Tosh, for your outstanding contribution to Barts Health and specifically The Royal London Hospital.