Wigan nurses with more than 100 years of combined service were recognised at a trust celebration

Lifetime achievement awards were presented to Janet Davenport, practice development lead for district nursing, and Anne Ollerton, diabetes specialist nurse manager, at the International Day of the Nurse and Midwife event at Wigan and Leigh College.

Janet has worked for the NHS for almost 52 years, starting as a cadet nurse at the age of 16, while Anne joined as a cadet nurse in 1972 and now has 54 years of nursing experience at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL).

Janet said: “I was pleasantly surprised, humbled and genuinely honoured to be the recipient of the lifetime achievement award at WWL, and on my 68th birthday!

"I have enjoyed working in the Wigan borough every day of my nursing career and believe it to be an honour and a privilege to be a nurse and district nurse (DN) practice development lead in the DN service. I value my peers, colleagues and friends’ support – those within both the acute and community sites. I value working alongside all community colleagues to improve and benefit patient care.”

Anne said: “It was an honour to receive the award, especially being among so many other worthy winners. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every day of my working life at WWL.

"For the last 38 years, I have worked as a diabetes specialist nurse manager in a very busy unit, surrounded by an excellent team where we all work together, no matter what grade of staff, to improve the patient journey. I feel very lucky to work with this team at WWL.”

The celebration was opened by Kev Parker-Evans, chief nursing officer, to celebrate staff and their dedication to patients, the community and their professions.

He said: “To celebrate the dedication that both Janet and Anne have shown to WWL, and to the NHS, is the least we can do – especially when they have worked for more than 100 years between them.

"I’m so proud to be part of an organisation where staff choose to stay for such a long period of time, and Janet and Anne are prime examples of why these celebration events are so important.”

The event was a celebration for the trust’s nursing and midwifery staff to mark both International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.

It included a performance by registered nurse Daisy Chacko, who recited a poem she had written called A Nurse’s Promise, chosen as the winning entry from a trust-wide campaign.

Stephanie Lawrence, chief executive of Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, and motivational speaker Graham Prestwich were guest speakers.

Staff members spoke about their journeys to becoming qualified practitioners and showcased initiatives they had launched to improve care and experience for patients.

Kev added: “This event is truly special every single year, and reflects the pride, compassion and commitment at the heart of our organisation, and every one of our nurses and midwives. Without them, we simply would not be able to do what we do for the community of Wigan and I am so proud of them all.

"Thank you to all of our nurses and midwives for everything they do for our patients and each other, and I hope they enjoyed our celebration event.”

Other awards and certificates were handed out by special guest Bridget Lees, deputy regional chief nursing officer, including:

• Karen Downs Innovation Award: Joanne McAllister, head of patient experience and engagement
• Global Majority Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Lijo Abraham, staff nurse, neonatal
• Midwife Going Above and Beyond: Joanne Kilbride, community midwife
• Nurse Going Above and Beyond: Reuben Matanga, charge nurse, intensive care unit
• Learner of the Year: Heather Clegg, student nurse
• Leader of the Year: Nicola Dawber, ward manager, Jean Heyes reablement unit
• Chief Nursing Officer Award: Samantha Barnsley, bereavement midwife
• Pauline Jones Nurse Leadership Award: Heather Dineley, Rainbow ward matron, child health
• Patient Safety Excellence Award: Chloe Mowat, resuscitation and trauma lead nurse