Feature: Our staff through the years
Earlier this year The Walton Centre celebrated staff who marked 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of service at the Trust with a special afternoon tea event. In total, over 1200 years of service was celebrated by this year’s recipients. Here we speak to a recipient from each decade.
10 years
Jonathan McGregor, Research Management and Governance Lead
“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years – it’s absolutely flown by. I started in an audit and effectiveness role, before moving into the Datix team, then working on a project for the Spine Tango registry which led to my first role in research, and then my current role. It’s nice being able to move around and learn new things, whilst applying similar skills and experiences. “In my current role I help set up clinical studies, working with the clinical teams and other staff in the Neuroscience Research Centre. We’re one big team, working to find solutions for patients, and each other. “It’s hard to think about what the next 10 years will bring, I can barely think past the next 10 minutes! I’d like to stay in the research team, and definitely within the NHS. We’ll see!”
20 years
Dr Charlotte Dougan, Consultant Neurologist
“I was appointed as a Consultant at The Walton Centre in 2005. 20 years has gone very quickly and I’ve seen a lot of changes. The Walton Centre has been a fantastic place to work, it’s allowed me to develop my career in my specialist area of neurology and support advances in treatment and care for the benefit of patients. “One of the most rewarding aspects has been developing and delivering the neuromuscular service with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to rise to the challenges of providing great care. There’s a collegiate atmosphere at The Walton Centre, where everyone works together to deliver best practice. Things are always changing; the future is a fascinating place with gene therapy and precision medicine for treatment of patients with very complex and challenging diagnoses and conditions. “Looking ahead, we have considerable talent at The Walton Centre and I shall enjoy handing over the reins to the younger team members. It’s been all-encompassing, absorbing, yet very special 20 years here.”
30 years
Emma Baldock, Resuscitation Lead/ANP, Acute Response Team
“I wasn’t supposed to do neuro, I didn’t even have a placement until the last minute, but I was hooked and got my first role on Caton Ward on the old site in 1994, under the legendary Sister Edna Walker. In 1999 I was part of the original Critical Care Outreach team, led by Pat Crofton. “Over the past 25 years, there’s been a lot of change. But the essence of nursing has stayed the same – care and compassion. Staff here are a special group of people. It can be hard, especially dealing with some of the sickest patients, and sometimes it doesn’t go the way you want, but there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a patient go home with their family. “I feel privileged to have been at The Walton Centre for so long. One thing has never changed – we’re here for the patients, that’s been the most important thing every day for my 30 years.”
40 years
Cathy Stoneley, Advanced Nurse Practitioner
“I started so long ago; we wore capes and paper hats! My first role out of nursing school was on Jefferson Ward on the old site. We were straight into ward management and had a lot of responsibility in those days. I asked a lot of questions, read a lot of books, and listened to a lot of people. “Since then, I’ve done quite a few roles, including ICU, Critical Care Outreach and a matron role for a short time. I am currently a Neurovascular Advanced Nurse Practitioner. This role came from a project I put forward when a matron developed a project around it. I started the service in 2008; 17 years later, there’s five of us in the team. “We see patients in pre-op, on the wards and ICU, and for their first follow-up. It’s where we add value – doing a full holistic needs assessment of their health and situation following their haemorrhage, ensuring the best care. “I’m not ready to retire yet though, I’ve invested so much into the service and our patients – my heart is with the patients; they’re why I come to work.”