Dedicated NHS staff have been honoured with awards for their long service in York.
The honours were presented at an event at the Radisson Hotel to workers who between them have clocked up hundreds of years of service.
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, Simon Morritt, paid tribute to the dedicated and caring staff at the awards.
“Our long service awards are about celebrating the service, commitment and skills of staff who’ve shown their loyalty to the trust over many years,” he said.
“There is no doubt the last few years have been a challenging time for the NHS but one thing it’s highlighted is how much our people are the glue of this organisation.
“The fact that so many of our staff stay with us and dedicate their working lives to the patients we care for, makes for a very special place to work.
“It also speaks volumes about their personal values that so many of them have chosen to stay and to inspire newer colleagues to thrive.”
6,000 years of service
This year, more than 200 members of staff from York and the surrounding areas have reached the milestone of 40 or 25 years dedicated service to the National Health Service. Between them they have worked over 6,000 years.
Among those receiving awards was Dr Alison Forrester who delayed her planned retirement during the Covid pandemic to continue her outpatient clinics and to care for patients.
She said: “I’m proud to have worked for the NHS as a doctor since 1981, including two years in York as a medical registrar, before training in public health medicine – and latterly for 25 years here in outpatient gastroenterology.
“I’ve experienced many changes in the NHS over the years but at the heart of it for me has always been doing our best for the patients we serve.
“I feel passionately about the principles underpinning the NHS and I hope it can continue to offer expert care with warmth and humanity.”
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Also celebrating was Suzanne Burnett, who has worked at York Hospital for nearly 42 years.
Suzanne currently works in the patient experience team after serving many years as a nurse.
“I’ve loved being part of a team that, for the most, has been like my second family. I have made lifelong friends because of working here,” she said.
Kevin Beatson has worked for the trust for 26 years, mainly on the development of its electronic patient record systems.
Before joining the NHS Kevin had a career in engineering, largely in the coal mining industry, including several years on the coalface.
Kevin said: “I feel really proud of some of the work we have done over the last 25 years, and I’ve enjoyed being part of the wider team to make a difference and contribute to improvements in the way we delivery safe and effective care to our patients.”
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