Inspirational nurse marks NHS half-century

A long-serving nurse from Medway has marked an incredible five decades of service in the NHS and pledged to continue caring for patients in a role she describes as “simply brilliant.”

Rosie Felton, 67, from Rochester, started her nursing training on 10 December 1973 at Berwick Infirmary in her home county of Northumberland, before moving south in 1976 to complete her qualification and seek further employment in the NHS.

Rosie has since spent the last 47 years working in a variety of roles for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, including at former sites St Bartholomew’s Hospital in Rochester and All Saints’ Hospital in Chatham. She currently represents the Sunderland Day Case Centre team at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, as Clinical Sister.

To mark the milestone anniversary, Rosie was surprised with gifts, flowers and a special display at a celebration event where she was joined by friends and colleagues, including the Trust’s Chief Executive Jayne Black.

Reflecting on her career and what the future may hold, Rosie said: “My achievements in urology nursing really stand out and it is great to see how this area of the NHS has developed. I proudly worked as a Urology Nurse Specialist at Medway for many years, and I was one of the only nurses at the time to hold a degree in my speciality and have a research paper published in the British Journal of Urology.

“If I could go back to the start of my NHS journey I would do it all over again. With the support of my husband Bob, I will carry on doing the job I love for as long as I can, and I am still enjoying it immensely.”

Jayne Black, Chief Executive at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It was a real privilege to join Rosie at her 50th anniversary celebration and thank her on behalf of the Trust, our colleagues, patients and the local community.

“Rosie is an inspiration and her knowledge and experience is invaluable to colleagues; more than 50 years since staring her NHS nursing career, she continues to provide excellent care to patients. We are extremely thankful for the years of commitment she has shown to the Trust and we send Rosie our congratulations on reaching this major milestone.”