Showing appreciation for 725 years of NHS service

Staff who have devoted 725 years of combined service to the NHS received recognition at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Long Service Awards. The Trust acknowledged 29 long-serving staff who have each been with the NHS for a minimum of 25 years.

The event, attended by Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard, celebrated staff from clinical and non-clinical areas including a midwife, chief pharmacy technician, a health records manager, a specialist ambulatory medical services administrator and consultant physician in interstitial lung disease. The Long Service Awards are funded by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity.

Catherine Renwick has been a pioneer in her area of work, becoming the UK’s first nurse consultant in paediatric cardiology and setting up Royal Brompton Hospital’s first children’s nurse-led Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) clinic.

SVT is a condition where the heart suddenly beats much faster than normal. Catherine has particular expertise caring for children with arrhythmias (heart rhythm problems) and is currently undertaking research into exercise in children with inherited arrhythmias.

She said: "When I first started as a clinical nurse specialist, I was looking after children I’d cared for on our intensive care unit, so I’ve known them and their parents from when they were babies and have watched them grow. The benefit of being able to see children develop, and having that experience, is that I can offer a lot of reassurance to parents in certain situations.

“When they are admitted in a crisis because their baby is very unwell, with SVT for example, all they can see is this terribly sick baby at this time. They can’t see 6 months and a year down the line to know that things are going to be okay. But I can see it because I’ve seen these children as they’re growing up, and I know what the outcomes are and how things are usually very positive.”

Julie Malpass is an advanced practice radiographer at Guy’s Cancer Centre at Queen Mary’s in Sidcup. Julie supports patients with a range of cancers who are undergoing radiotherapy treatment. She also supports patients with prostate cancer for up to 5 years including regular follow-ups.

She said: “The longer you do a job the better you get at it.

"The more things you learn, the more strings to your bow. For patients, it’s so stressful having to have a course of radiotherapy. So it’s about giving them that face-to-face support.

“Being able to come here, it’s local, it’s nearer to home. It’s also about being able to speak to someone who knows the answers to the questions they have, and their worries and concerns. Because you’ve formed that bond during radiotherapy, it’s easier to have those conversations. I love being able to make that difference in their lives and that’s what I’m here for.”

This year, the Trust’s Long Service Awards was presented by non-executive director Pauline Philip. Pauline said: “It’s been incredibly humbling to hear the amazing contributions that have been made to the NHS by our long serving staff.

“It’s wonderful to present the Long Service Awards and to be able to show our appreciation for their dedication and devotion to the service.”