Maureen's story

Dedicated Maureen Tew, aged 71, has finally switched life in the NHS for retirement after more than 40 years helping sick people.
 
The switchboard operator has hung up her headset here at Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, where she was based for almost half her career.
 
Mum of three and grandma of seven Maureen, who lives in Ecclesfield, is now preparing for the holiday of a lifetime cruising round Canada.
 
Maureen, who lost her husband to pancreatic cancer three years ago, said: “Spending more than 40 years working for the NHS has been an absolute privilege and I have enjoyed every second of it. Colleagues become more like family and I can’t imagine spending my career anywhere else.
 
“I have made some lifelong friends over the years, especially those who supported me after my husband died, and that means the world to me.”
 
Maureen began her career as an auxiliary nurse at the Jessop Hospital in 1966, before taking a break two years later to have her third child, now 42.
 
In 1970, she returned to a role on switchboard and medical records at Middlewood Hospital, where she spent 14 years, before moving on to Lodgemoor Hospital.
 
Maureen then joined the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in 1989, working as a receptionist on the Accident and Emergency department.
 
At 60 she was going to retire but was instead lured by a part-time job on the Children’s Hospital switchboard, where she has been for the last 11 years.
 
Derek Burke, medical director at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Maureen has been a delight to work with over the years and I know I speak for everyone when I say how sorely missed she will be. We wish her the best of luck in the future and hope she makes the most of her retirement.”
 
And Maureen’s daughter, Alayna (50), is following her mum’s footsteps having already worked for the NHS for 33 years.
 
She started as clerical support aged just 16 and now at 50, works as a personal assistant at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
 
Maureen added: “I didn’t exactly plan to keep working until 71, but when I was offered the switchboard role I knew how enjoyable it would be.
 
“I’ve seen massive changes to the NHS over the years, in particular during my time at Children’s Hospital.  When I started in A&E 21 years ago, there would normally only be two staff on duty – a sister and a doctor, but now there’s a busy team who work tirelessly and often see hundreds of patients every day.
 
“The specialist services available to patients now have come on leaps and bounds thanks to new research findings and new technology. We are very lucky to have this level of expertise on our doorstep. 
 
“To be here throughout all the growth has been a fantastic experience. I’ve also seen groups of young doctors and nurses go through their years of training and develop long-lasting careers within the NHS. The same can be said for my daughter, who might even end up staying in the organisation longer than I have!”
 
Maureen is now looking forward to some gardening and voluntary work for a cancer charity after nurses helped her care for her husband at their home.
 
She added: “Retirement definitely doesn’t mean I’m going to stop – you won’t catch me with my feet up all day every day! I like to keep myself busy, which is what I’m planning to do.”