Long serving staff who have worked at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust for 25 and 40 years have been recognised and celebrated for their dedication.

The trust staged its 2023 Long Service Awards ceremony.

At the ceremony, all the years of services added together of attendees came up to more than 1,600 years of service to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

It’s the first time the trust has been able to host the Long Service Awards since the pandemic, and included staff who marked their 25 or 40 year anniversaries between April 2019 and March 2023.

Barbara Lomax joined the NHS in Bolton in 1975 as a cadet nurse and said she felt proud when reflecting on her career.

She said: “It’s emotional to look back. When I started, we wore yellow uniforms and split our time between the hospital and Bolton College.

“I worked at the General, what used to be known as Townley’s, on the elderly wards. We used to have lots of fun and it was like a family.

“Many of the girls I started with were in their 30s and 40s and they are now in their 80s. All these years later we go out for tea once a month.

“Today Bolton is still such a friendly place, and everyone is willing to help each other.

“Things are improving all the time, and even through the changes, patients are always our priority. We have to make their experience as safe and as comfortable as we can when they’re poorly.”

Barbara currently works as a healthcare assistant on the coronary care unit (CCU) where she now provides advice and support to today’s students.

She said: “I love what I do, even after 42 years of night shifts. I hope I can inspire the students who come through the doors, and I often share my stories with them.

“Starting in a busy, acute hospital ward can be overwhelming so it’s all about making them feel comfortable and confident.”

At the awards, a history of the NHS in Bolton was shown, showcasing all the key milestones and pictures from the archives of former nursing staff and hospital buildings from over the years.

James Mawrey, Chief People Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It has been a challenging few years yet everyone has continued to show such remarkable dedication to helping others.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate the service, commitment, and skills of our staff. The fact so many have stayed here and devoted their lives to the patients we care for is one of the many things that makes Bolton so special.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.