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Recognising 900 years of service at West Middlesex

07 February 2014

The commitment of staff who have clocked up over 900 years of service between them was celebrated at West Middlesex University Hospital on Wednesday 5 February.

The commitment of staff who have clocked up over 900 years of service between them was celebrated at West Middlesex University Hospital on Wednesday 5 February.

The annual Long Service Awards recognise and reward staff members who have put in over ten years of service.

56 employees attended the event after achieving one of the significant milestones of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years and 40 years.

Jacqueline Docherty DBE, Chief Executive, spoke at the awards of the strong sense of teamwork across the hospital and the wide range of roles which play an important part in patients receiving safe, excellent care which is demonstrated by the positive patient feedback we have received recently.

Nina Singh, Director of Workforce and Development, said: “West Middlesex is a hospital where many staff choose to stay with us and form part of the local community. That’s quite special for aLondonhospital and we hope to preserve that. We see the importance of formally recognising the achievements and loyalty of our workforce and this ceremony gives us the opportunity to publicly thank staff and acknowledge the service they have given over many years.”

Edwin Dela Cruz from Isleworth has been at West Middlesex for ten years, he started here as a ward manager in AMU before becoming Head of Faculty of Nursing three years ago. He said: “This is my local hospital and it is a friendly place to work, I definitely see myself retiring here.”

Joseph Machado from Hayes has worked as a Healthcare Assistant on Osterley ward for ten years, he said:”I still enjoy the challenges of the job and working with some many different people each day.”

Susan Nugent from Isleworth was collecting her award for over 15 years service as a midwife.  She actually started her midwifery career atWest Middlesexover 30 years ago before taking a break to raise her two daughters who were both born here. She said: “I came back to the Trust in 1998 as a neonatal nurse and returned to practice midwifery a year later; my colleagues are all very friendly and I really enjoy my work as a community midwife.” 

Karen Beck from Teddington has worked as a midwife at West Middlesex for over twenty years and is now midwife on the new dedicated home birth team. She said: “I trained as a midwife atWest Middlesexand then went on to have both of my children here. I’ve always found West Mid a friendly place to work and have enjoyed being able to specialise and promote breastfeeding and home birth.”

Diane Pursglove from Chiswick has worked in the hospital pharmacy department for 30 years. She said: “Funnily enough I started here in a temporary position, since then I have worked with many people and have made a lot of good friends. I have seen the hospital change a lot and I have also had a few family members work here over the years; there have been many good times, and some sad times but on the whole, I have enjoyed my time here. “

Obertine James from Hayes has served as a staff nurse at the Trust for 38 years. She said: “I’ve definitely enjoyed meeting so many different people – I’ve seen many come and go. It just takes one nice comment from a patient to make your day and then make the job worthwhile.”

Staff nurse, Ann Brown, from Staines was collecting her award for 40 years of service to the Trust. She said: “I have loved working here, and I have worked with some lovely colleagues and cared for very nice patients over the years. I’ve seen so much change on the hospital site, and sometimes I miss the old fashioned uniforms but I’ve moved with the times, as has the hospital. It’s been very enjoyable to speak to my colleagues today and to celebrate our service for the Trust.”

The longest serving staff member at the ceremony was patient affairs manager, Chris Lewis, from Shepperton who has worked at the Trust for 41 years, this April. He said: “I have carried out many roles in my time here; I started out in the x-ray department as a messenger, then a clerical assistant before joining the finance department where I have had various roles before working in the patient affairs office. It has certainly gone very quickly and I’ve always enjoyed working here.”

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