Sister Kate: Nursing Through the Troubles

by Kate O'Hanlon

When Kate O'Hanlon started work at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, the people brought in to the casualty department were suffering from acute medical conditions or were victims of road traffic accidents. So when the telephone rang one evening in June 1966 with the news that there had been a shooting in Malvern Street, no one in the department could believe it. But before long such incidents became daily occurrences - over a three-year period on 48 occasions, the department received patients with multiple injuries caused by explosions - and the hospital went on to treat more victims of the Troubles than any other hospital. Kate spent 16 years as the nurse in charge of casualty, working through many of the darkest days of the Troubles, including the bombings of McGurk's bar, the Abercorn and Donegall Street as well as Bloody Friday. Told with her trademark blend of warmth, compassion and humour, this is her fascinating, frank and no-nonsense story of nursing on the front line. If you enjoyed Call the Midwife, Yes Sister, No Sister or Matron on Call, this is the perfect book for you.

149 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked a few anecdotes of her time learning nursing, perhaps I would have connected more with the author's story. I found the style spare, almost telegraphic; you can tell she spent most of her professional life writing reports for people who knew what she was talking about.

[Sarah Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly I am slightly biased cos this is by my beloved aunt/godmmother! But it's a fascinating read - all about her many years spent as head nurse in the ER at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast during the start and worst times of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

She's a fascinating person, who then travelled the world, sharing her knowledge and experiences with others.

You can also learn loads about my family, how she and her brothers (including my dad John!) were born in the Markets and brought up on the Antrim Road. I have to admit to sobbing out loud on a plane journey when reading about how my granny (who I never met) died at home in her bed of a heart attack, surrounded by loved ones.

A real piece of history and all told in Aunt Kathleen's trademark humourous style...

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book and I enjoyed it. Once I started reading it, I literally didn't set it down again until it was finished. It was fasinating to hear Kate's memories of her time working in the Royal Hospital during the Troubles. Admittidly it's not the best written book I've ever read - but then Kate isn't a writer, she's a retired nurse so what can we really expect? Also to me it did feel a little bit one sided when it came to the conflict in Northern Ireland at some points. I doubt very much that this was deliberate on Kates part though and suspect it's as much my problem as hers, Having grown up in Northern Ireland during the troubles myself it is difficult to not read it one sidedly

[Geraldine T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quick read, some interesting stories about nursing in the Royal.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and straightforward look at nursing during a turbulent time. No frills or embellishments just her actual experience.