Dedicated healthcare professionals with a combined service of more than 750 years have been recognised at a special ceremony this week.
To celebrate the NHS’s 75th anniversary, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) held a special celebration day at the Wolverhampton Civic Centre for its staff.
As part of the day, 29 ICB staff members who have dedicated 20, 30 and 40 years to the NHS were honoured for their long and loyal service in the NHS.
Among those rewarded was Maxine Danks, Head of Continuing Healthcare in Wolverhampton for the Black Country ICB, who received an award for 40 years. Maxine started her career in 1983 at 18 years old and has been a registered nurse since 1986. After spending more than 28 years in various nursing roles, she moved into healthcare commissioning in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since.
Maxine said: “When I joined the NHS at the age of 18, I never thought I’d still be here 40 years later. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse and that hasn’t changed but when you’re that young you don’t think that far ahead. I just knew that I wanted to help people, and that’s exactly what the NHS does.
“In fact, a few months ago I received a message on Facebook from a lady whose dad I looked after when I worked as a community matron more than 15 years ago. She said she never forgot what I did for her family when her dad was poorly and she never got to thank me back then, so was thanking me now. That was really lovely, and it really touched me to think that the care I gave had stayed with her for all those years.
“To me, the NHS is truly special. You might not see everybody who works in it, but everyone plays their part and if they didn’t, it just wouldn’t work. From managers down to front line staff, the whole NHS is one team, and we all work together.”
Also receiving an award for 40 years-service was Corrine Ralph, Head of Primary Care Strategic Commissioning for the Black Country ICB. Corrine, who is originally from Wigan, started her career at the age of 18 when she applied for nurse training at the Sister Dora School of Nursing in Walsall.
She said: “I can’t remember how I made the decision to become a nurse, I do recall having offers of training places, but picked Walsall as there was something I really liked about it. I started my nurse training in 1983 and loved everything about it – the Black Country has been my home ever since!
“After I qualified in 1986, my clinical experience was in medicine. I have had a range of management roles such as patient advisor and cardiac network manager. When I first started working in the NHS, my goal was to become ward sister and I didn’t think about my career past that point. I never thought more than 40 years later I’d still be here, but I’m still as excited by work now as I was back then.
“The NHS has given me an amazing career – it has supported my formal educational development and taken me on a fabulous journey, and I’m so thankful.”
Lesley Thorpe, Macmillan Personalised Care Project Lead for the Black Country ICB, was 18 years old when she started her nurse training. She received an award for 40 years’ service at the event this week and said: “I qualified as a nurse in 1986 after three years of training. I originally lived in Dudley but moved to Walsall to train at Walsall Manor Hospital - moving away from home was daunting but I loved the training. I spent 24 years a general nurse in various roles, but always had a particular interest in cancer.
“I have fond memories of working as Cancer Nurse Specialist – it’s a difficult job as you’re supporting people through a very distressing time in their lives. However, being able to support them from diagnosis right through to treatment and aftercare and share that journey with them is a privilege.
“I’ve been a nurse for 40 years, but it doesn’t feel that long. The NHS is a family to me and it’s all about working together and being part of a team. I always say that us nurses have a different perspective on life and a weird sense of humour, but I think it’s makes us what we are.”
Jane Sutton, Senior Finance Specialist for the Black Country ICB, also received an award at the event for 40 years’ service. Jane joined the NHS just before her 19th birthday in 1983 and has never looked back. She said: “I’d just finished school after taking my A- Levels and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do afterwards. I saw a job within a finance department in the NHS and just applied. When I got the job, I never thought 40 years later I would still be working in finance within the NHS.
“There’s been lots of changes over the years, but for me the main one has to be the technology. When I first started, we didn’t even have computers, we were completely paper-based, and everything was calculated manually. I remember when we first started working on our own computers, complete with dial up internet, and had to have training so we knew how to use them which was very exciting. It’s definitely a lot easier now and everything can be done at a push of a button.
“The NHS plays such a vital role in everybody’s lives and I’m really proud that I have played my small part in one of the nation’s most loved institutions."
Mark Axcell, Chief Executive Officer for the Black Country ICB, said: “Marking 20, 30 or 40 years of service within the NHS is an amazing achievement and one that should be celebrated.
“We chose to present our long service awards at our staff celebration day as it was the perfect opportunity for us all to celebrate the amazing work our staff do together, whilst also reflecting on the 75th anniversary of the NHS and how far we’ve come.
“Our staff are our greatest asset and I’d like to thank all our long-serving colleagues for their commitment to the NHS.”
