This is the week that saw me being awarded a certificate of appreciation for my 25 years in the NHS. Actually, it is close to 27 years continuously because I was employed by Lothian Health Board during my 2 years of clinical training in Edinburgh. The story starts long before then, in February 1972 when I started work as a nursing assistant on the princely salary of £669. I know everything was much cheaper then, but allowing for inflation that represents a salary of £7000 in today's money, almost half of the lowest starting salary in the NHS now.
The afternoon event involved sandwiches and cakes, a chance to reminisce, and a formal presentation.
It has been a week for cakes. Our new Foundation Trust came into being on Thursday and we had a share of the celebratory cake. And I celebrated 14 years with the specialist substance misuse service on the same day by bringing in a selection of cream cakes and pastries for my colleagues. I am all caked out - but have left room for hot cross buns today and a slice of Simnel cake on Sunday. Is this what it has come to? A life revolving around reminiscence and cake?! My first day with the team was appropriately spent in a pub - well, a hired room in the pub, without alcohol - as a team-building event. Only myself and one of the admin team survive from those heady days, but whether I will be celebrating 15 years there is a moot point given the major changes and uncertainties that lie ahead. We could certainly do with some more team-building, if only to have another day in the pub.
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