Two colleagues at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating an impressive combined 70 years of service in the NHS.
Julie Morgan, Learning and Development Partner, has reached the milestone of 40 years of continuous service after starting out on her NHS career as a teenager.
Valerie Bridge, who is the face of the reception at Ridge Hill Centre in Wordsley, is retiring after 30 years of service.
Julie joined the NHS as a 16-year-old in 1984 as a clerical officer, initially on a three month contract. Four decades on she has seen the workplace evolve from rows of alphabetised medical cards and paper maps, to all the technology of the workplace in 2024.
She has held a range of roles throughout her career, from working in an admin team to being a supervisor, before working in her current area of learning and development where she supports the next generation of talent through developing training, education and apprenticeships for colleagues.
Julie said: “I’ve been very fortunate over the years, it’s all about the people you work with that become your friends and family. I love being around people and helping others, I think working in the NHS matches my personal values and you can make a difference.”
She is particularly proud of her work on apprenticeships and seeing people grow in their roles.
Julie added: “You see people have potential so you take a chance on them and see them flourish and go on to bigger things. It’s nice to make a difference and help them to navigate that period.”
Colleagues celebrated Julie’s milestone with a celebration at Penn Hospital, with tributes flooding in from across the Trust.
Meanwhile Valerie, who retires this month, is a familiar face to visitors at Ridge Hill centre, which is a hub for learning disability services in the Dudley borough. She is on hand to help people to feel comfortable and welcomed when they attend their appointments.
She started her career working in a GP surgery in Cradley Health, supporting a GP who ran the surgery single-handedly. She moved to what is now BCHFT to work as receptionist at Delta House in West Bromwich, becoming a recognisable and friendly face to many colleagues across the organisation.
She stayed there until it closed before joining the Dudley Learning Disabilities Admin Team, where she has made a big impact, with colleagues praising her as a valued member of the team.
Valerie said: “I would like to thank my fantastic colleagues for their support and kind words as I close this chapter of my life. It’s been a privilege to help support our communities and to help make a difference.”