Memories of an Ulster Nurse

Kay Price

From the Old Park Road in Belfast, Kay Price was born c.1945. She applied to student nursing at Ulster Hospital in Dundonald at 17 years old and began in 1963. She spent some time in London and Texas before returning to Ulster to work as a Night Sister. This was a floating role working across multiple departments which Kay held for ten years. She then became a Nursing Officer and subsequently became Director Manager for A&E, Plastic surgery, Orthopaedics and Trauma. She retired in 2000.

Kay passed away in 2025 in Belfast. 

"I’d do it all over again."

Angela Sayers 

Born in 1957 and raised in East Belfast, Angela Sayers (née McCarten) began her training at the Ulster Hospital in 1975. She completed her 18 months training for mental health nursing, subsequently working in Purdysburn, Whiteabbey and laterally at Windsor House as a Ward Sister. It was during her time at Windsor House that Angela began working with Dr Ethna O’Gorman in the psychosexual unit, establishing the first gender identity disorder team in Northern Ireland. At the time of the interview in 2023, Angela was retired but still on the bank, nursing one or two days a week at Woodstock Lodge, a mental health resource centre in East Belfast.

"It was the best experience of my life. I would go and do most of it again… and I only hope I am the sort of nurse that I learnt from."

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Anne Allen 

Born in 1948 and raised in the Castlereagh hills, overlooking Ulster Hospital. Anne ended up working on the baby’s ward after she qualified, and continued working with babies for the rest of her career. She was Ward Sister at the Ulster in Aiken Nursery for over 20 years. She moved again to the neonatal unit, eventually becoming unit manager after completing her neonatal practioner’s course at Queens and achieving her degree in neonatal intensive care nursing. Anne retired from her post aged 55 but remained on the bank at the Ulster and the neonatal unit at the Royal Maternity, before finally retiring in 2016. She had been a nurse for 40 years.  

"The Ulster Hospital was not just my work, it was my life, it was my happiness. And there wasn't one single day that I went into the Ulster Hospital and didn't want to look after the babies and their families. I just loved it."

Eileen Ardis 

Born in Comber in 1945 and raised in Belfast. Eileen Ardis (née McMaster) began her training on 22^nd October 1962 as part of PTS 1, the first cohort to train at the Ulster Hospital when it opened in Dundonald. She completed her RSCN (Children’s Nursing) at the Ulster and her RGN (General) at Belfast City Hospital. She returned to work at the Ulster for the rest of her career as a children’s nurse.  

"So the Ulster Hospital meant so much to me and I always used to say it was my second home and my second family and that's how I saw my nursing career."

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Patricia McCreedy

Born in Belfast c.1956, Pat grew up in East Belfast. She started her training in 1974, staying in Home 3 for her 3 years of training. She subsequently did her midwifery training from November 1978 – November 1979, which included time at Royal Victoria Hospital. She returned to the Ulster until she emigrated to Australia in 1981 to escape the Troubles. She now teaches students working in rural areas in Australia. 

"Well, as I say, I wasn't a great kid at school, a wee bit rebellious, lacking concentration. But what the Ulster and what nursing gave me was I am so blessed to have had the caring support, the opportunity to meet some amazing people and make a difference in their lives. And they've made a difference in my life."

Tina Donnelly

Born in 1953 in Surrey to parents from Ulster, Tina moved to Newtownards as a teenager. She began her training at the Ulster Hospital on 22 January 1973. She became a cardiac nurse on the same ward where her father had received treatment a few years earlier – they saved his life. Tina went to London soon after to do midwifery training. She returned to the Ulster and after four years on Ward 15 as a ward sister, she went the cardiac wards (5 and 6) at the Royal. She joined the TA around the time of the Iraq War, and her first tour was in 2000 of Kosovo and Bosnia. Through the TA she subsequently did two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, serving 23 years in total. Tina went on to become Director of RCN in Wales in 2004, holding this role until retirement in 2018. In 2014 she was awarded a CBE for services to nursing, the armed forces and trade unionism.  

Tina passed away in September 2025 in Wales. Upon her death, RCN Wales’s executive director described her as ‘a nurse to be reckoned with’.  

"Nursing has given me my life. It has, seriously. it's made me the individual I am, whether that's as a compassionate caregiver, whether it's working in a team with people, whether it's going home and thinking, well, it was busy today, hope it's easier tomorrow. And then having the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented people saving lives."

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We will continue to share the stories and memories from the nurses we interviewed. These interviews are all in our Sound Archive. To access them, please contact the Sound Archive at sound.archive@nmni.com