Hospital worker celebrates four decades of supporting and caring for patients

At the tender age of eight Sheila Trimble knew she wanted to become a nurse but her greatest fear was the footwear she would have to wear.

“I liked caring for people but I also liked pretty shoes with a heel and I knew nurses had to wear flat, brown, clumpy, spongy shoes and to me that was the worst thing about nursing,” she said.

It wasn’t enough to put her off of her dream job though as 54 years later, and at the age of 62, the grandmother of one from Rochester is celebrating 40 years of continuous service with Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

To prepare her for a career in nursing, at the age of eight, she joined the Red Cross as a Junior Cadet before becoming a Senior Cadet. She left at the age of 12 to take up cross country running and gymnastics but during her time with the charity she visited hospital wards where she would give patients drinks and put flowers in vases.

After leaving school she worked in a bank for a year before starting her two-year training on 22 September 1980, at the age of 18, to become a state enrolled nurse.

She said: “I was living in Hertfordshire so I studied at Watford Hospital for four weeks at a time followed by six-week placements working in all of the different specialities at St Paul’s Hospital, which is now closed, and West Herts Hospital.

“I didn’t like theatres as there was nobody to talk to and I found it difficult learning all of the different instruments. It was clear it wasn’t for me anyway as I was told theatres wouldn’t employ me but all the other areas I worked in said they would accept me.”

After finishing her training in 1982, Sheila worked on the stroke rehabilitation unit at Hither Green Hospital for three years before moving to Kent.

“My husband and I wanted to buy a house but we couldn’t afford the prices in London, so we moved to Rochester where the house prices were cheaper,” she said.

“I started a temporary job at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in 1985 and moved the same year to St William’s Hospital where I worked for five years caring for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.”

This was the start of Sheila’s 40-year service as both hospitals were run by Medway Health Authority, which later became Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

Remembering her role at St William’s Sheila said: “I would put the drugs, as prescribed by the doctor, into bags for each patient. Back then all cancer patients were inpatients and they could be with us from three to five days depending on where the cancer was.

“Looking back, the radiotherapy treatment seems barbaric now as the patient had to lie flat for two days in a lead lined room while they had their treatment. Breast cancer patients would have three to four metal rods inserted which were then attached to a radiotherapy machine. We had to switch the machine off to go in and care for the patient then switch it back on when we left the room. Thanks to advancements in technology and treatments many cancer patients can now have their treatment and go home the same day.”

When St William’s closed, Sheila returned to St Bartholomew’s to work in the sexual health clinic where she undertook swabs, provided antiviral treatments to patients with HIV and AIDS, and took bloods.

In 2000 she moved to Medway Maritime Hospital where she began working on Sunderland Day Case Centre, preparing patients ahead of surgery, taking them to theatre and looking after them when they’re back on the unit before going home the same day.

Sheila added: “Unfortunately due to the criteria changing for my role and a lot of courses needing to be completed, which I couldn’t commit to at the time, I couldn’t continue with my nursing role and I now work as a Clinical Support Worker (CSW) two days a week. I don’t regret my decision. I’m very happy in my role and I have a lot to give. I plan on working for at least a couple more years before I think about retiring.”

To celebrate her milestone, Sheila was presented with a certificate and gift voucher by the Trust’s Chief Executive Jayne Black during a special Long Service Awards ceremony held at Medway Maritime Hospital on Wednesday 19 March.

Sarah Vaux, Interim Chief Nursing Officer

Sarah Vaux, the Trust’s Interim Chief Nursing Officer, said: “Over the past 40 years Sheila has devoted her working life to supporting and caring for our patients in so many different ways. It really is an amazing achievement to reach this milestone in her career.

“On behalf of everyone at the hospital, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Sheila for her service.”

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