Watford Hospital awards its long standing employees

More than 117 doctors, nurses and support staff, totalling an incredible 3,000 years of service at Watford, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans Hospitals, were honoured at a long service awards ceremony last week (Friday, March 21).   Trust Chief Executive, Samantha Jones and Chair, Mahdi Hasan presented dedicated staff who had reached over 15 years’ service with a certificate and a gift or vouchers. Individuals also being honoured at the special event were those who had reached 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 year service in our hospitals.   Attendees were treated to a celebratory tea and a piano player.   Samantha Jones said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to thank each member of staff today for their outstanding commitment to duty. Our staff are without doubt our greatest asset and work extremely hard to provide the very best possible care to our patients.   “We strive to be an employer for whom people choose to work, and this is evidence that people do indeed choose to work in our hospitals, and for many continuous years.   “I am extremely impressed with the enormous levels of commitment, hard work and loyalty shown here today.”   The longest serving staff member at the ceremony was Cathy Cooper, a junior sister in the ophthalmology department at Watford Hospital. Cathy has clocked up 40 years continuous service.   She said: “I’m very proud to be receiving this award. It doesn’t seem like 40 years have gone past since I started my training back in 1973 at Watford Hospital, which was then known as Shrodells. There is a real community feeling in the hospitals and everyone is so friendly, which is why so many staff stay for many years.”   For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk.  You can also join our 2,300 followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) or find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS).