A total of 131 NHS Forth Valley staff, with a total of 2,670 years service between them, attended the second of two special award ceremonies to celebrate their long careers working for the NHS. The event was hosted by the NHS Forth Valley Chairman, Alex Linkston and Chief Executive, Jane Grant at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and each member of staff was presented with a specially designed certificate and pin badge.

Among those present were seven members of staff who had each notched up 40 years service. These included Susan Milne, Team Leader for NHS Forth Valley’s Community Children’s Nursing Service and Linda Condie, a Clinical Pharmacy Technician at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Susan Milne started her nurse training in 1974 at Great Ormond Street before moving to the Royal Free Hospital in London. She then moved to Scotland in 1979 to train as a midwife at Yorkhill’s Hospital for Sick Children before becoming a Sister at the former Falkirk District and Royal Infirmary. Susan was responsible for setting up the new community children’s nursing service in 1996 which has grown to a team of ten providing a valuable outreach service to children in schools, nurseries and homes across Forth Valley.  The team supports children with complex health needs and helps to train and support the parents and staff who look after them.

In 40 years of nursing Susan has witnessed many changes including advances in technology and medical support which has radically improved the outcomes for many premature babies and young children. She has also seen many changes to nurses uniforms (she remembers her pink and white uniform with frilly hat fondly!) and nursing practice over the years.

Linda Condie started out in Bangour Hospital in West Lothian in 1972 as a student pharmacy technician and continued to work there for several years before moving to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where she was a member of the pharmacy team for 13 years.

She came to Falkirk District and Royal Infirmary in 1993 and worked there for a few years before service changes lead her to work at Stirling Royal Infirmary. Linda still works continues to work within Pharmacy services and is now based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Alex Linkston, Chairman of NHS Forth Valley, said: “It was a great pleasure and a privilege to present these awards to staff and to have the opportunity to personally thank them for the contribution they have made to the NHS during their long and dedicated service.”

Jane Grant, Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley said: “The staff who attended the award ceremony came from many different professions and it was fascinating to hear about their careers and some of the changes they had witnessed in the NHS over the last 40 years.”

Pictured receiving their 40 year service award are:

Back Row (Left to Right) Annette Gilmour (Clinical Nurse Manager), Tom Horne (Staff Bank Receptionist), Susan Milne (Team Leader, Community Children’s Nursing Team) , Linda Condie (Clinical Pharmacy Technician), Jane Grant (Chief Executive, NHS Forth Valley)

Front Row (Left to Right) James Easson (Biomedical Scientist), Alex Linkston (Chairman, NHS Forth Valley) Margaret Shanks (Health Visitor), Elizabeth Bennett (Staff Nurse)