7 March 2022
Reflections on long nursing career Una O’Neill is a proud centenarian and retired nurse who is as passionate about health care now as she was in her younger years. Her rich experience includes working as a ‘fever nurse’ in England during World War 2, and roles here in Canterbury in a variety of specialties, including as a midwife in Ellesmere, and a district nurse in Leeston. She recently enjoyed a special celebration of her 100th birthday with family and friends. Reflecting on her nursing career, Una says the day she received her successful nursing exam results after three years of training was one of the best days of her life. “I was so happy!” Una moved from Ireland at the age of 21 to Oldham, Lancashire, England, in 1943 to begin what would be her life’s vocation. “On arrival in England we were presented with a gas mask and helmet and we thought 'what a friendly bunch' they are!”
“We would get notified that a patient with scarlet fever or measles, for instance, had arrived and we’d go out to the ambulance to bring them to the ward. I remember very strict ‘barrier nursing’ to avoid cross-infection and visitors being restricted to try and stop the spread of infection.” Of all the changes she witnessed in her long career, such as reduced surgery recovery times and shorter stays in maternity, the positive effect of immunisation was the biggest, Una says. “When people started to get immunised those wards eventually weren’t needed anymore. People stopped getting the diseases, so they didn’t need to go to hospital and the ‘fever wards’ were closed.” She recalls asking families if they would allow their child to be immunised. “Sometimes they said no. The only deaths I saw were those that weren’t immunised, and now those diseases are wiped out.” In the 1950s New Zealand was advertising for trained nurses to work in the country on a two-year contract.
“You always had someone to chat with over the good and bad things that happened during your day, someone to study with, and go out together with, it was a lovely homely atmosphere.”
“My friends and I decided to take up the offer. We paid 10 pounds for our fare and were given a contract for two years. If the contract was broken, the penalty was 100 pounds. On arrival in New Zealand we were designated different areas of the country. I reported at Christchurch Hospital, and from there to Ellesmere.”
Her first role was as a ‘fever nurse’ working in the ‘fever wards’ that treated people with diseases such as measles, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, polio and diphtheria.
When her contract was up Una decided to stay in New Zealand and says being a nurse was satisfying and rewarding.
She enjoyed living in the Nurse’s Home.
Una O’Neill outside the Westhulme Fever Hospital in Oldham, England
Una O’Neill (far right) in the grounds of Ellesmere Hospital in the 1950s. With her are from left, Sister Harding and Sister Talbot
Una O’Neill at her 100th birthday party
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