Southport Nurse Celebrates 40 Years of Service in the NHS

ONE Southport nurse wishing the NHS a happy 75th birthday this year is Carol White.

The 63-year-old, who currently works in the resus team at Southport Hospital, started her NHS career in 1977 and apart from a break to have her own family, has been working locally in a variety of nursing positions ever since.

After starting her training in 1977 at Southport School of Nursing she qualified as a State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) in 1979 at the age of 20, and got a job on the spinal unit at the old Promenade Hospital.

Following a period away to have her own family Carol returned to the spinal unit and was one of the staff members who helped it move to its current site in its new purpose-built unit.

Carol converted to be a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in 1993 and remained on the spinal unit before helping to set up the High Dependency Unit in 2011. In 2005 she was offered a secondment to resus and has been there ever since.

Looking back over her past 40 years in the NHS Carol said: “There have been many changes in the NHS, especially when you look at the technology that is being used now.

“We have moved forward massively in that area, and it has definitely helped the care we can deliver for our patients.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my nursing career and I would love to get to 50 years of service. Being a nurse is incredibly rewarding and I have a lot of great memories and made some amazing friends.

“It is hard work at times and the expectations of the public have definitely increased but I firmly believe we are a family who look after others and hopefully our colleagues.

“We really saw this during Covid and I will always remember the work everyone put in during the pandemic. Everyone went above and beyond for the patients that came here and I am really proud of what I did and what my colleagues did too and people still tell me what a wonderful job everyone in the NHS did at that time.

“The camaraderie was amazing really and I will never forget it.’’

She added: “I’ve been doing this job for more than 40 years and my sights are set on making it 50. I still love it and am always looking to help others develop their skills and careers now.

“It’s a fantastic career and I wouldn’t change it for the world.’’