On 5 July 2024, the NHS will mark 76 years of service. NELFT is taking the opportunity to share staff stories and the contributions they have made to the Trust and to the NHS.

There are over 350 careers in the NHS across the UK from clinical roles like nursing and physiotherapy to non-clinical roles such as finance and communications.

Isabel Robson has an extraordinary 50 years of service in the NHS and has spent 15 of those years at NELFT.

When Isabel was 15 years old, she decided she wanted to be a nurse. Isabel said:

“I did not know what I wanted to do when I left school. But then I had knee surgery and remember watching what the nurses were doing, and then I thought I wanted to do that. I decided then and there that I was going to be a nurse, to help and support people. My training was amazing, I knew straight away I was going to learn so much and I have.”

Since the age of 16, she has worked in many different parts of the NHS, including accident and emergency, sexual health advice for vulnerable young people, urology, and clinical effectiveness. She said:

“I have always felt valued in all of the roles I have worked in and always encouraged to expand my knowledge and skills and most of all listened to.”

At NELFT, Isabel currently works as a Clinical Facilitator with the Significant 7+ Team supporting carers who work in Care Homes across Barking, Havering, and Redbridge. She said:

“I really like to share my knowledge and encourage carers to provide the best care for their resident/clients. I always get them to think how they would like their loved ones to be cared for and treated, or in years to come, it could be us who is a resident or client.”

Throughout Isabel’s long service in the NHS, Isabel has had many proud moments and has helped and supported so many patients. She said:

“Throughout my long career I have many stories I could tell – like many of my colleagues, I am sure we could write a book!''

“In my role as Sexual Health Advisor for Vulnerable Young People – I helped and supported a number of teenagers. As we all know, teenage years can be difficult for several reasons.''

“I would like to think I made a tiny difference to their lives, and I helped and supported some very vulnerable young people, and I will always be proud of that.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Isabel was redeployed to the Infection, Prevention and Control team. She said:

“For the first six months of the pandemic, I was trained to perform FFP3 mask fits for staff, so they could be involved in their work safely. The team was very supportive during this time, and I really felt a part of their team.”

As Isabel reaches retirement, she gives advice to new staff members going into the NHS and NELFT, saying:

“Work hard and always look for ways to improve what you are doing. Embrace all the appropriate training that you can to improve your knowledge and skills.''

“Be punctual, flexible, and have good verbal and listening skills. Be encouraging and supportive, extend your skills, be friendly, smile and have a good sense of humour.

“Most of all – enjoy – we spend a lot of time at work, so we need to love what we are doing.”