Celebrating our long serving staff
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) recognised staff with over 1300 years NHS service at a long service awards event.
Maria Duffin-Mills was given her 40 years Long Service Award at a celebration afternoon tea, which honoured 25, 35 and 40 years NHS service.
Maria, the Cancer and Associated Specialities Clinical Lead for Quality Risk and Safety, started training to be a nurse in 1984.
She said: “A lot has changed over the years particularly in terms of technology, but also within patient wound care (long gone are the days of egg white and oxygen!), and even just in terms of uniform. I remember wearing my silver buckle with pride and my nurses’ cape, the card hats with stripes representing your experience, and the ward sisters wearing the frilly hats and cuffs, as well as the doctors wearing white coats!
“I believe teamwork and collaboration has really been the key to success and has been pivotal to the positive changes that have happened over the years. I've seen it time and time again in my different roles; it is so important to engage with others – I have always said that I am a single spoke in the wheel that makes up the organisation. I have worked with fantastic teams, with awesome breadth of knowledge, and with some great patients and families – many of whom I will never forget.
“I have had a very varied career with lots of different roles, and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to predict many of them or where I've ended up now when I first started, but I have no regrets at being encouraged to try different things. it’s all worked out. In fact, I would like to really thank those who have encouraged me to apply for roles that I probably wouldn’t have gone for otherwise – they have definitely all worked out well.”
Other attendees at the celebratory event included Dr Abed Zaitoun, a Consultant in Cellular Pathology, who celebrated 25 years’ service.
Dr Zaitoun said: “There have been many advances in molecular pathology for patient care over the years, I have seen big changes in services and technology.
“We can now view images digitally, which means getting second opinions is easier and we are significantly more involved in patient pathways now.”
Jack Adlam, Director of Communications, Danielle Petch, Chief People Officer and Nick Carver, Trust Chair, attended the event to celebrate and present the attendees with their NHS long service badge and a certificate.
In his opening speech, Jack said: “These events are such an important opportunity to celebrate our long serving staff. There is an amazing amount of expertise and over a thousand years of combined service in this room! I want to thank you all for everything you have and continue to do."
Long service is celebrated at NUH once a quarter with an award presentation and afternoon tea event, which is generously sponsored by Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
