One of NHS Grampian’s longest serving employees has retired from her role as a healthcare support worker on her 83rd birthday.
Beryl Mitchell has spent 45 years as part of the NHS, having joined the haematology team at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 1980, where she spent nine years before moving to Royal Cornhill Hospital.
Beryl worked in
the Fraser Ward at Cornhill, where she supported young people with acute mental
illnesses. She says you’ve got to wear lots of different hats and it’s a
challenge she still enjoys.
Beryl said: “I
really do like my job. When you get patients coming to you and saying, 'thank
you so much for helping me, you've just been great,' it’s so rewarding. The
best part is seeing patients getting better, going out of the ward with
happiness in their face and you don’t see them again. That’s when we think
‘we’ve done a good job there’ and it really lightens my heart to see that.”
Beryl’s role is very hands on, and she has spent a lot of time speaking with patients, providing reassurance. She has always worked night shifts in the NHS and remembers the days when she held down three jobs, to support her young family. Before heading to the hospital, she had a cleaning job, and in the mornings, she would wash dishes at a Chinese restaurant from the night before.
She explained: “It has been my life. I even met my now husband working in the NHS. I remember he was decanting a patient from his ward to my ward, and now we’ve been together for 25 years. I have met so many lovely colleagues over the years.”
Beryl will be fondly missed by her NHS Grampian colleagues. Christen Pirie, senior charge nurse on Fraser Ward commented: “Beryl has been a valued member of our team for many years and is held in high regard by colleagues and patients alike. Beryl's kindness, care and compassion has been unwavering in her many years of devoted service, always going the extra mile to ensure patients are given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Beryl in recent years and I, amongst many others, will miss Beryl's wisdom and humour which have so often kept morale high during challenging times. Myself and the team wish Beryl the very best as she steps into her well-deserved retirement.”