Wakefield NHS staff honoured for long service

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With over 963 years of NHS service between them, a group of Wakefield staff from South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s have received long service awards at a special event.

The staff – who have all worked for 25 years and more in the NHS – work at a range of mental health and learning disability services across Wakefield including Fieldhead hospital, and the Sycamores community unit for the elderly. The long serving staff were presented with certificates and gift vouchers by the chair and chief executive at a special event held at the Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield. Gary Ward, a forensic community psychiatric nurse at the Bretton Centre, Fieldhead, was among the staff who received an award. Gary said, “Altogether I’ve worked for the NHS for more than 26 years and I started at Storthes Hall hospital as a nursing assistant in early 1983. I worked on secure units for many years until 1999 when I moved into a community setting. I’ve enjoyed it all – especially working with clients and other members of staff and I’ve had the opportunity to meet many interesting and wonderful people along the way!” Community sister Jane Lacy, who works at Fairfield School, has also received a long service award for dedicating 27 years to the NHS. Jane said, “I started my nurse training with the Leeds Eastern Heath Authority at Meanwood Park Hospital in January 1982. I worked there until 1993 when I went to work for Dewsbury Health Care, Learning Disabilities Service. Now I am based at Fairfield Special School where I have been for the past 16 years! In my current role I ensure the medical and nursing needs of the children we care for are met on a daily basis." Trust chief executive Steven Michael, who presented the awards and also received an award for his own 25 years of service, said, “This event is a great opportunity for the Trust to thank our long serving staff for their remarkable contribution to the NHS. Their hard work and dedication helps to improve the lives of so many people with mental health problems and learning disabilities in the area. I’m delighted to present these awards as a token of our appreciation of the commitment shown by these members of staff.”

Wakefield NHS staff honoured for long service

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