THIS year, our wonderful National Health Service has been celebrating its 70th anniversary.

It has been a particularly emotional year for many people who have fond memories of their time spent working in the service.

We have readers who can remember a time before health provision was free for all at the point of delivery.

Before this many families struggled to afford important health care and it was little wonder the poorest members of society were often forced into the workhouse in order to meet their health needs.

It was a remarkable moment when in 1948 it was announced the NHS was up and running.

It has been a much worked on project that would grow to become what we know and love today.

Thanks to the many stories about the NHS memories of working in nursing in Bolton have been at the forefront of Barbara’s mind as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service.

Here at Looking Back we asked for readers’ memories and Barbara got in touch thanks to a nudge from her sister, Muriel Davies, who lives in Bolton.

Barbara, now living in Stroud, started training as a student nurse in 1943, she says.

She was, as she describes it, “thrown in at the deep end” without any preparation or a pre-nursing course.

At this time Barbara was just 19-years-old.

“As I walked down the corridor in Townleys Hospital I asked staff nurse Pendlebury which ward I would be on.

“Male ward she answered somewhat brusquely. That was shock number one.

“There were more shocks to follow.”

She explains that in her purple and white checked dress with starched cuffs, apron and cap Barbara marched boldly to this “Florence Nightingale-type” ward of 38 beds.

“In 1947, having got through my finals, I decided to do midwifery in Leicester accompanied by a friend in my set.”

But the women got a shock when they arrived as the “hospital” was simply a row of terraced houses which had been due for demolition pre-war.

In 1948, Barbara was in Gloucester where she rode “all over the place at all hours of day and night” on a bicycle.

“Babies are notorious for not keeping to dates and times.

By 1948 and 1949 she was in Liverpool Maternity Hospital “which was a bit more civilised.

“I left Liverpool after one year with the intention of getting married. The poor chap — I had kept him waiting from 1943 but then he was in North Africa for four years from 1942 to 1946.”

Returning to Bolton in 1949 Barbara was on the “District Headquarters in Chorley New Road” doing home visits.

“At this point I became fully aware of the value of the NHS.

“I have four people which included three living alone who I gave insulin injections to and they had problems ranging from eyes to amputations.

“They were very brave people.”

There was an incident one morning, recalls Barbara, when her bicycle chain broke.

“I can’t recall where it was — it might have been Park Road or Deane Road.

“Poor Miss Sykes was my last call for an injection.”

Barbara explains that she loved working in the NHS “immensely” despite it being hard work she adds.

“There will always be a shortage of nurses and that is because nurses are born not made.

“Nothing or no one can turn a person into a nurse however hard they may try.

“My heart swells with pride when I think of the NHS,” she says.

Do you have your own memories of the NHS?

Get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk with your stories of working in this fine institution.