Busier than ever now she’s retired

Having spent close to three decades as manager of Ward 4 in Altnagelvin, Joy’s final day was on November 6, but her colleagues and friends gathered in the Board Room at Altnagelvin to pay formal tribute to ‘Sister Doherty’ on Friday, showering her with praise, thanks and good wishes.

While many might relish a good lie in after so many years of dedicated service, Joy admits that she is still waking on the dot of 6.15am each morning. It’s a hard habit to break when you are conditioned to waking at the same time for more than 27 years.

“I have been very privileged and honoured to nurse so many people over the years. All I ever wanted to do since I was a child was to be a nurse,” she said, continuing: “Every year I had the same request for Santa when I was a child, a new nurse’s uniform, and I remember distinctly the year it came with a stethoscope. I listened to everybody’s heart, even the long-suffering dog got a health check-up, and all the dollies.”

Recalling the time her brother George broke his leg and she was part of the family delegation that went to the orthopedic clinic when he had to have his plaster cast changed, she recollected that the Orthopedic surgeon, George Fenton, had asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She knew: A nurse.

“I can remember him saying to my mum to bring me back in 11 or 12 year’s time and they would make a nurse out of me. I cannot believe I have been nursing for 38 years,” she said.

After six weeks of preliminary training Joy found herself on the orthopedic ward, and the consultant was none other than Mr Fenton, who remembered a little girl coming into his Ward and wanting to be a nurse.

“I would not say he clearly remembered me, but I thought ‘how prophetic was that’,” he said.

Back in those days the wards were filled with ex-Army medical staff, and they expected the same high standards from the ‘civilian’ nurses as those who served close to the battlefields during World War 2.

After three years in training Joy served six months on the gynae ward before spreading her wings and studying midwifery in Edinburgh.

At all times during her career Joy’s underlying aim was to bring the best training and experience she could to her work from her hospital and nursing experiences, and after several years in Edinburgh she decided to study intensive care practice. Having worked in IC during her training years, the then Ward Sister, Attracta Fiorentini, noticed her flair and sowed the seeds of interest at that stage. Joy studied IC practice for nine weeks at Guy’s Hospital in London. Interestingly by working there she was following in her mother’s footsteps, as her mother was a nurse in Guy’s during World War 2 and had to work during the blitz and carry and use a gas mask...

A stint of varied and interesting jobs in various locations in England followed, including working at Harley Street, the Princess Grace, the Cromwell, Middlesex and Hammersmith, as well as nursing a private patient at the Dorchester. Along the way she nursed all colours and creeds, from Royalty to the most marginalised in society, and loved every minute.

Joy returned to Altnagelvin in August 1984, where she remained until November 6.

Filled with praise for ‘my girls’ she praised the wonderful staff she worked with: “We had a tremendous team which made life a lot easier and there was a great atmosphere on the ward”.

Paying tribute to all who worked alongside her for their dedication and professionalism she said: “If anyone deserved a special mention it is ‘my girls’. They were my extended family. I had no children of my own, or sisters, but I had a team of the most dedicated, competent, professional that any manger could wish for. Some worked with me for over 20 years, most for over 10 years.”

Joy went on to thank the staff who looked after her when she needed to spend time as patient herself, and added: “If you were to asked me if I would do it all again I would start again tomorrow.”