Long-serving NHS staff who work in communities across Lincolnshire have been praised for their dedication.
The 56 staff from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) have chalked up 1,370 years’ service between them.
Each person has achieved either 20, 30 or 40 years’ continuous service.
Trust chairman Dr Don White said: “I would like to thank each of these individuals for the dedication they have shown to their professions.
“It’s always very heartwarming to hear about their experiences of working in the NHS, and particularly those who have spent their years with patients and families in Lincolnshire. It’s a pleasure to be able to help them celebrate their loyal service.”
The acknowledged staff included these three women who have worked locally:
Carole Rickard, Community Nurse, Spalding (40 years)
Since starting with the Boston School of Nursing in 1974, Carole has held various positions within the NHS.
She started working in A&E before moving to orthopaedics. She then moved to Holbeach to become a night sister. Carole later moved to Spalding to work full-time on the Avalon wards. She had still been on induction when a day sister role came up. She moved to the new Welland hospital, after which she completed her teacher’s training.
She later returned to the Welland where she helped to transform services from a geriatric facility to a first-class rehabilitation unit.
She also completed her NVQ assessor and later the verifier’s qualifications.
Carole became part of the South Holland Assessment and Rehabilitation Programme and now works with the Rapid Response community nursing services, based at the Johnson Community Hospital.
“It’s always been a vocation. It’s certainly hard work and it’s not the best paid but I have always loved people,” Carole said. “I nursed my own mother and I could not see myself nursing anyone else in any other way than how I would want my own family to be treated.
“All of my working career I’ve been in the Boston and Spalding area and I now nurse patients who knew me when I was a child.”
Jackie Cocks, Nursery Nurse, Spalding (20 years)
Jackie started working for the NHS at Holland Road Clinic as a receptionist, before moving to a role typing medical records for Dr Patchett.
Following the arrival of her second child, she began to work for the health visiting team as a healthcare support worker. She later completed her Cache Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Practice and started working as a community nursery nurse within the health visiting team, where she still works today.
Barbara Ulyatt, Community Nurse, Holbeach (20 years)
Barbara commenced her state enrolled nurse training in November 1979 and her first job was in an ECG/EEG department and Radio Isotopes department in 1982.
Through her career, she has worked in a children’s ward and outpatients department before moving to district nursing. She has worked in Lincolnshire since 2011.
