Two friends have celebrated the landmark of 40 years service each in the NHS – after starting work at the same place and on the same day in 1971.
Georgina Morrison, District Nurse at Edge Hill Health Centre, and Sue Power, Team Leader at the Treatment Rooms in Dovecot Health Centre, met when they both started their first day of nurse training at Broadgreen Hospital on January 4, 1971.
More than 40 years later, their friendship has held strong – as has their relationship with the NHS. And just as they started their working life together, they’ve just both celebrated their ‘Ruby anniversary’ with the NHS – at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust.
Their memories of life in the NHS are fascinating, with Georgina remembering trainee nurses needing permission by their Matrons before they could become engaged.
She also remembers living in nursing accommodation which were almost Dickensian by today’s standards, with late passes only being given until 11pm at weekends.
Georgina, 59, whose career has taken her from Broadgreen Hospital to Edinburgh, Chesterfield and Gobowen in Wales, says: “I can’t believe I’ve clocked up 40 years.
"I’ve seen many changes during that time, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the great camaraderie amongst the nurses.”
Sue, 58, has also enjoyed a varied career, which has included a short break from the NHS when she worked in Occupational Health at factory John Dickinson’s, a 35-year stint as a District Nurse for Liverpool Health Authority Teaching, and a 30-year role as a District Nurse at Queen’s Drive Health Centre.
She says: “It is the enjoyment of the job that has kept me here – and patient contact is what I enjoy most of all.”
Georgina and Sue are now planning a 40th anniversary reunion on March 18, 2011, for any former colleagues who started training at Broadgreen Hospital in 1971.
Anyone who wishes to contact them should phone Georgina on 0151 487 3702.
gareth higgins, caernarfon north wales around 1 year, 3 months ago