Farewells

from Bulletin Autumn 2020

Hepatitis outreach

Deborah Mercer

Deborah started her nurse training at the Trust in 1981, living in the Old Nurses’ Home at Saint James’s, present day Trust HQ. She spent her whole 39 year career at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. making a huge contribution to innovative nursing practice within the Emergency Department and the development of the Emergency Nurse Practitioner training. Deborah’s knowledge and expertise was second to none within the Trust. Following the birth of her children she returned to a role within the Clinical Site Management team and becoming Team Leader for a number of years, before retiring and returning part time to the role of CSM.

She will always be known as the ‘Winter Planning Queen’ through her meticulous attention to detail. Her planning was remarkable and she often worked well into the night to meet deadlines and ensure challenges were met. This year in 2020, Deborah finally made the decision to retire fully from the Trust due to ill health and to enjoy her time with her family and friends, and to take the time to do all the things retired ladies need to do.

The respect the CSM team have for Deborah as a person is immense. There are many people over the years who she has developed and shaped into leaders of the future. Her colleagues wish her happiness in her retirement and are planning lots of lunch dates to catch up when she’s not out enjoying the countryside in her camper van with the family.

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Gill Howard

Happy retirement to Gill Howard who was a Specialist Pharmacy Technician managing the ward stock distribution service at the LGI. Gill had worked within MMPS for 34 years and enjoyed a small gathering with her fantastic team at MRDU. Gill planned to retire in March this year and moved her plans back to continue to support the Pharmacy team eventually retiring in July. Gill will be greatly missed by all her friends and colleagues who wish her all the best in her retirement. The team would like to say thank you to the MRDU team for making her send-off so special. Gill received many lovely gifts including a garden seat on which she now can spend many relaxing days drinking her pink gin!

Helen Inns

Helen Inns - Advanced (Senior) Biomedical Scientist retired from Microbiology in June after 38 years of service to the NHS. Her career started in Haematology at LGI in 1982. She changed discipline to Microbiology in 1987 taking up a post St Luke’s Hospital Bradford. In 1991 she moved to Microbiology at LTHT to her senior role, working at St James’s and LGI. During this time Helen has helped develop the service and made a significant contribution in the development of our current BMS staff. Helen’s dedication, work ethic and breadth of knowledge will be missed as will her ever supportive nature.

Graham Hartley

Graham commenced in the Data Quality department in 2008, a very different change in direction from his former career. When Graham left university he became a research development engineer and was a school teacher for design and technology for 20 years in Goole Humberside.

In 2008 he decided to take a very different change in his career when he retired from teaching and joined the Data Quality Department at LTHT. Graham’s teaching skills were an asset not only to the complex investigative work the DQ team carry out but also assisting with the training of staff. Graham was a valued member of the team and will be missed, but the time is right for him and his colleagues all wish him the very best in his retirement as now he will have more time to enjoy his passion outside of work which is taking part in historical re-enactments - the English Civil War - which Graham takes an active part in and travels all around the UK to take part. There was one occasion at work when Graham asked to use the telephone - he was ringing the police regarding a gun. As you can imagine all ears pricked up. The explanation Graham gave was that he was in charge of transporting the cannon and required police interaction – phew!

A fond farewell to our long-serving staff

Jo Caldicott

Jo Caldicott retired in June after joining MMPS as Head of Nursing in 2003 following a varied nursing career. There was a socially distant MS Teams leaving presentation. Jo left with the following parting words: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all the kind words and generous gifts that I have received for my retirement this week. It has been an absolute pleasure (well most of the time) working within MMPS. I love the diversity of the people that I work with and have built wonderful friendships over the many years. You all inspired me to make LTHT a safer place for staff and patients. I still firmly believe we do this every day! It is now time for new adventures, as I am beginning to look and think like a pharmacist! I wish you all future happiness and many great adventures.” MMPS wishes Jo a long and happy retirement.

Kevin Stainsby

The Estates and Facilities team would like to take the opportunity to thank Kevin Stainsby, CCTV Controller, for his 33 years of service and contribution to the Facilities Hub and the Trust. Kevin retired in August and his team would like to wish him a very long, happy and healthy retirement: “All the very best for the future and stay safe.” Kevin is pictured on the right with his Team Co-ordinator, Helen Connolly.

Yvette Oade

Dr Yvette Oade, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, retired from her role at LTHT in April. Yvette began her career in medicine as a trainee in 1984, taking on various posts in Wakefield, Leeds, Salford, Blackburn and Manchester. She became Consultant Paediatrician, with a special interest in Paediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology in 1993. Her career over the next 20 years saw Yvette go on to become Associate Medical Director of Children’s and Women’s Services and then Executive Medical Director at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Yvette first took up the role of Chief Medical Officer at Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust in 2011, before joining LTHT in that same role in 2013. During her time at LTHT, Yvette’s leadership and influence has been outstanding. Her contribution to developing and embedding positive culture has been hugely significant and she has acted as a role model for staff across the organisation. In particular her development of Clinical Leaders in CSUs has been influential in transforming clinical engagement across the Trust. Yvette’s focus on high quality teaching has transformed the reputation of LTHT as a Teaching Hospital, leading to major improvements in the quality of the medical educational programmes. Research has also flourished under Yvette’s stewardship thanks to strong relationships fostered with university partners. A socially-distant retirement presentation with colleagues from across the Trust prompted many heartfelt comments that spoke highly of Yvette’s many credentials, including her faultless work ethic, impressive organisation, and courage in making difficult decisions and upholding the highest standards of personal conduct and behaviour among colleagues. Her colleagues wish her the very best for the future.

John Toolan

John Toolan has worked as Senior Nurse in the Clinical Immunology and Allergy Department, Beckett Wing, St James’s, since 1995, having previously worked as staff nurse in liver transplantation, intensive care, neuro-medicine and neonatal nursing in Leeds since qualifying at St James’s when part of Leeds Eastern Area Health Authority. John was a founding member of and instrumental in formalising the national Immunology Nurses Group in 1997, acting as president and treasurer. He has been active on the international nurse’s network, spending time as treasurer and event organiser. John has spoken at conferences both nationally and internationally in relation to immunology and allergy. He was involved locally with the development of guidelines and protocols which supported Leeds becoming an accredited Immunology and Allergy Centre. Since working in Clinical Immunology and Allergy, John has studied for a BA in Humanities and Social Studies, an MA in Social and Cultural History and qualified as a non-medical prescriber. John has taken the service forward, including planning patient days for a variety of conditions. He will be very much missed by the many patients he has cared for and supported within the service over the years and also by his friends and colleagues, not only within Immunology but the wider LTHT community also. His colleagues wish him a long and happy retirement.

Judi Hooley

Judi Hooley retired in February after a 40 year career as a specialist radiographer in radionuclide therapy (nuclear medicine). Remarkably, all of those years were spent working at LTHT, from her start as a trainee up to heading the RNT team - first at Cookridge and then at St James’s. Judi has treated many patients with thyroid cancer in that time and remembers most names still! Judi’s small team had such a wonderful working relationship and friendship under her wing and they will miss her greatly. Judi is now volunteering for a gardening charity and enjoying time with her sons.

Kevin Reed

Kevin has retired from the Facilities portering team after 33 years working for the Trust. Kevin was a wellknown figure within the portering team and has seen many changes over the years, as well as within his own management team. Kevin enjoyed his role within the portering team and more recently was working closely with the night teams. Kevin is wished lots of luck in his retirement from the portering and management team as well as many other members of staff who have known Kevin over the years: “Good luck Kevin and enjoy your retirement.”

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Julie Crouch

Julie Crouch started her nurse training in 1984 and following this worked in various wards including cardiology. She then started her midwifery training in 1991. A fantastic midwife, she has worked on delivery suite, postnatal and antenatal wards before her long stint on maternity assessment at St James’s. Julie’s retirement gift request was that we all collect pants and bras for a charity called ‘Smalls for all’ which provides underwear for women and young girls in Africa, the grand total being 369 pants and 90 bras. Julie was amazed with this and was very grateful to all who contributed. Her team also spoilt her with a gift voucher, fruit trees and a nice send-off.

She now has time to be with her family Darrell, Alex and George as well as attend her allotment plant trees and admire her chickens, as well as time for keeping up with her many friends. Julie’s team said: “Thank you Julie for your years of giving amazing care to women and their babies and being an amazing friend and work colleague.”

Kathleen Flunt

In August 2020 MMPS said goodbye to Kathleen Flunt, Business Manager. Kathleen started work at St James’s in 1991 as a Quality Assurance Manager in sterile services and then moving on to Production Manager for St James’s and Seacroft Hospital. In August 2002 Kathleen successfully applied to become a project manager for Medicines Management Strategy where she led on a medicines management project for four days a week and on the remaining day she acted as professional secretary to the Decontamination Action Group and in 2003 became the new business manager in Pharmacy, probably the longest serving business manager in the Trust! For the past 17 years Kath has worked tirelessly in MMPS and her work ethic was exemplary. Kath quite simply is a “gem” - people who don’t know her think she is quiet but her close colleagues knew her wicked sense of humour. Out of work Kath plays the violin to a high standard (grade 5), she loves travelling - particularly cruises – needlework, and she is also a budding thespian and enjoys acting at her local Theatre company. Retirement will give Kathleen lots more time to enjoy these.

A fond farewell to our long-serving staff

Majorie Allen

Majorie is a dedicated and loyal Registered Nurse at LTHT where she has cared for patients spanning a 40 year career period. Majorie has worked tirelessly, starting out as an Enrolled Nurse on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit where she cared for very poorly adults and children. In the late 90s she graduated as a Registered General Nurse and became a Staff Nurse on the same unit. It was caring for children on the unit that inspired Majorie to train as a Registered Sick Children’s Nurse, gaining this qualification at the turn of the millennium.

The early 00s saw Majorie return to caring for adults, as an acting F Grade on the Haematology Day Unit. It was from here that Majorie first turned to research as a possible future career, and one that she has never left. She became a Haematology Research Sister in 2003, and a couple of years later she returned to her love of caring for children as a Research Sister in Paediatric Oncology. Not one to stand still for long, Majorie joined a brand new Children’s Research Team in 2010, caring for research participants who were not oncology patients. In the last 5 years, Majorie has been back at University and studied hard to gain her PG Cert in Clinical Research Methods, and has also led on a long term follow up study as a secondment at the University of Leeds. Majorie knows lots of people at LTHT; it is not uncommon for her to pass someone that she knows as soon as she steps her foot out of the office. She is an inspiration to her team and a loyal staff member at LTHT.

Linda Bailey

Our dear colleague Linda Bailey retired at the start of the pandemic and uncertainty on 1 April 2020 a day before her birthday. Linda started with the Trust as a Domestic Assistant in 1988 before moving to Therapies in 2002 and since then has been a major part of Adult Therapies Reception team at Chapel Allerton. Linda’s colleagues miss her kindness, humour, radiant smile, tales of long country walks, family updates, and her time given to both her admin and clinical colleagues. Linda cared a great deal for the patients attending their appointments and made sure they were well looked after. Her colleagues can’t wait to celebrate with Linda when they can do so safely!

Nina Tate

Nina Tate, Staff Side council administrator, retired on 31 March. Her team had planned to give her a huge send-off but as she is over 70, she was advised to work her remaining days from home and sadly had to cancel her leaving lunch. Nina started as an administrator for Staff Side council over 20 years ago. Nina has been a real asset ensuring the smooth running of Staff Side council during those years. Nina has been a much-valued member of staff supporting both Staff Side and the HR team for a vast number of years. Her organisational skills are exceptional and she is unflappable in any given situation and always helpful when anything is asked of her. Nina always remains calm and professional and is very highly thought of by both Trade Union reps and senior management team. always does everything with a smile and nothing is ever too much trouble. Her colleagues will miss her tremendously and would like to thank her for all her hard work and support and hope that she enjoys a well-deserved retirement and look forward to a celebration in the future.

Liz Kay

In April MMPS wished Professor Liz Kay a happy retirement through a virtual presentation. Liz was a registered pharmacist who had worked in a number of roles across Leeds before taking on the position of Chief Pharmacist / Clinical Director when the Trust merged in 1999. During Liz’s 22 years as Clinical Director, she has led the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Pharmacy Services to become one of the leading pharmacy services in the world. Since retiring Liz has been busy leading the pharmacy service at the Nightingale Hospital Harrogate. Her MMPS team we would like to say thanks to Liz, for her hard work and commitment to patient care and service improvement, which has made a lasting and beneficial impact to LTHT patients and staff alike. Her colleagues wish her all the best in her retirement and future endeavours.

Mary O’Kane

Consultant Dietitian Mary O’Kane retired in June after 39 years’ NHS service, 37 of which have been at LTHT. She has had a very successful career regionally, nationally and internationally which in 2016 led to Mary being awarded Fellowship of the British Dietetic Association, at the time one of less than 100 Dietitians in the BDA’s entire history. Head of Dietetics Tracy Clephan comments that “Mary has been a credit to Dietetics and the Trust and as an honorary contact holder we know that we will not lose Mary’s expertise completely as she mentors and supports other professions within the field of obesity. We wish Mary a very happy and healthy future. She has definitely earned it!”

Attention Key Workers! Gateways School are offering Sixth Form Foundation Scholarships for children of Key Workers

As a thank you to Key Workers, Gateways School are offering a limited number of Sixth Form scholarships for daughters of Key Workers wanting to study A Levels from September 2020.

The scholarships are means-tested and will last for the duration of the A Level course (2 years).

Gateway’s 6th Form is a single-sex girls only environment, known for its small class sizes and personalised education. With the average A Level class size of around just 4, every pupil receives individual attention throughout the duration of their course. The pupils also benefit from many leadership opportunities as the role models of the school and they have the opportunity to be involved in organizing whole school events and taking part in a range of extracurricular activities.

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Please note: This offer is only open to girls; we cannot accept applications from boys as our 6th form is a single sex, girls only environment. There are limited scholarships available so please register your interest asap! Visit our website for Ts and Cs.

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The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust endorse any of the products or services.

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