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"Inspiring" Kate celebrated for 50 years of NHS service
A nurse described as an inspiration has been recognised for her astonishing achievement of more than 50 years’ service in the NHS. Many of Kate Turner’s colleagues gathered at the West Suffolk Hospital cardiac centre on Thursday, 13 February to celebrate both Kate and her career.
Cardiac rehabilitation sister Kate, who started work at the former West Suffolk Hospital as a cadet nurse at the age of 17, was presented with a glass trophy to mark her 50 years by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) chief executive Dr Ewen Cameron.
Kate said: “I always wanted to be a nurse, and it is an honour for me to have cared for our patients. I have had a long and very varied career, working with marvellous people, it has been the absolute pleasure of my life.”
Holding her trophy, she added: “I am so pleased to be able to achieve this, and so pleased to be here with you all to share it. Sometimes it feels as if the time has gone so quick. It’s been mainly happy, I have seen a lot of changes, lots of laughter, some tears. I have met lovely patients, and that’s what we are here for.”
Dr Cameron said: “It is a real privilege to share this milestone with you, what a huge achievement. What has struck me has been the longevity and breadth of your career, in the hospital and community, across so many areas and finally the years in cardiac rehab. Over that time, you have impacted the lives of thousands of patients. This is a small token of our appreciation – thank you.”
Executive chief nurse Sue Wilkinson described Kate as a “true inspiration”, words that were echoed by Kate’s cardiac team colleagues.
Kate, 67, always wanted to be a nurse, but when she left school at 15 with no qualifications she had a number of jobs, including at the Danepak bacon factory, a poodle parlour and as a chambermaid at the Bell Hotel in Thetford. While there, she said, came “a realisation”.
“I thought – ‘what am I doing?’,” she recalled. “I phoned the ‘old’ hospital and said I would like to be a nurse. I was called in by the deputy matron Miss Armstrong to take an exam. I passed and started - as I was only 17 years old, I did one year as a cadet, the following year I started training to be a state enrolled nurse.
“On my first evening at the Nurses’ Home I was told I’d never make it without qualifications by the live-in home warden, but I did, with determination and hard work. When I qualified I began in theatres, but then was in a pool of nurses, being sent where we were needed.”
Moving to the new West Suffolk Hospital when it opened 50 years ago, Kate gained experience in various wards before taking a post in gynaecology, and then in 1980 she moved to coronary care/intensive treatment unit (ITU).
“I worked my way up and became a senior state enrolled nurse, but in the 1990s when the state enrolled nurse role was removed, I trained to become a registered general nurse,” she said.
“I have worked in cardiac rehabilitation for decades, from when it used to be the poor relation in this area of medicine. In the 1980s in coronary care we used to see mostly men, often recently retired. There was much less focus on rehabilitation and many of the patients would become deconditioned and lead a very limited life. With the advances in cardiac care we now know that cardiac rehabilitation provides vital activity and support for our patients. It helps patients with various cardiac conditions achieve knowledge, confidence and independence.”
Kate was also seconded into community services for four years as a cardiac liaison nurse, focused on cardiac care and rehabilitation.
More recently, Kate has returned to work despite being treated for cancer. “I wanted to come back to work, the wonderful team I work with are my ‘work’ family,” she said. “I had a goal to look forward, and my attitude is, you come in and get on with it.”
Kate, who lives in Stanton, has a daughter and two grandchildren. Having completed her 50 years’ service to our community, Kate has made the decision to retire at the end of April. “It has been a pleasure to work with you all,” she said, as her colleagues said what a sad day it would be for the team, and told Kate: “You will be much missed.”
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