“I am the Patient Flow Manger at York Hospital, which I have done for the last year and for the previous three years at Scarborough Hospital in a similar role.

“I manage several teams, including transfer, discharge liaison and bed managers. Together our job is to manage the movement of patients into, through and out of hospital.

“Patients come to us via a variety of routes - GP’s, emergency departments, outpatients, elective admissions and repatriation from other hospitals - to mention just a few. Between us we are responsible for putting patients in the right place at the right time.

“I started my nurse training on 5 September 1983 in Kent - which is the day I also met my wife. We qualified together and moved to Leeds to continue our training. Over the years I have had numerous roles including working on medical wards, acute admission units, night nurse practitioner, clinical site manager, bed manager and I have managed discharge teams. It’s difficult to say which has been my favourite role as I’ve enjoyed them all for a variety for reasons. I do fondly remember my first job for the excitement, the challenge of taking on new responsibilities and for making the friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

“The hardest job I have done is this one - every day is a challenge and is unique. In many ways it’s like a puzzle to be solved with many parts that constantly change, so what worked yesterday may not work today. The challenge for me is to keep the focus on staff and patients and ensure the best outcomes for all.

“I didn’t always want to be a nurse. Originally I thought I might become a fireman or a teacher, somewhere I could make a difference being the common thread. I knew I didn’t want an office job and I had strong desire to help people, so when a friend talked to me about nursing it sounded interesting and the rest, you could say, is history.

“There are many patients that I will never forget for so many reasons. Some for sad reasons, such as sitting with a patient while they died because they had no-one else. Some for the sheer joy of seeing their face when they saw their child being born - and others because I simply can’t forget the things I saw or because it was a brilliant day for them.

“I have been given several pieces of advice over the years but one of the best is: “Every day is a school day.” Take every opportunity to learn something new and share that knowledge to help others grow.

“I have worked for the NHS for half of its lifetime. As the final face in this campaign it has offered me the opportunity to think back over the years and consider why I am still here. Simply, I am intensely proud of working for the NHS and immensely proud of the achievements we make collectively. NHS staff come from a good place - they put others first and often put themselves out for their patients or colleagues. My motivation when I joined was a desire to help, to care and the drive to make a difference. Ask any new member of staff what motivates them and that still rings true today.

“The NHS is the jewel in the crown of healthcare both nationally and internationally. I think it is something we should all be proud of. I certainly am."