Staff from Scarborough and Bridlington hospitals, who between them have clocked up hundreds of years of service, were invited to be honoured at a long service event in Scarborough.

The annual event took place on Thursday 20 June at the Scarborough Spa, where deputy chief executive Andrew Bertram, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, paid tribute to the dedicated and caring staff from across the Trust - many of whom have spent much of their working lives in the National Health Service.

Speaking at the awards, Andrew said: “This year 73 members of staff from across the Trust have reached the milestone of 25 years dedicated service to the National Health Service.  Between them they have worked a staggering 1,825 years.

“One of the strengths of the Trust is the experience provided by our staff who have devoted their working lives to the NHS.  Staff are without doubt our greatest asset and work extremely hard to provide the very best possible care to our patients.  Each and every one of them is a credit to our service and the public they serve.”

Back in 1994, when many of these staff started working in the NHS, the average salary was around £12,500, while the price of a pint of beer was just £1.50!  The new starters would have been singing along to ‘Love is all around’ by Wet Wet Wet, which was at number one for an impressive 15 weeks, and they would have been watching Forrest Gump, Four Weddings and a Funeral and the Shawshank Redemption which were the blockbuster films of the year.

Celebrating their long service were staff who have served 25 years with the National Health Service - ten years of which have been consecutively with York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.  Among those being rewarded was Angela McKie, ward clerk on Chestnut ward, who has worked at Scarborough Hospital for the last 26 years.  Angela said: “I’ve worked at Scarborough Hospital since I was 18, and the main thing that makes me love working there is how friendly everyone is.

“There have been a lot of changes over the years - and it’s always busy - but there is never a dull day.  I like doing a worthwhile job where I feel that I’m helping a lot of people and doing my best to make things easier for the people I come into contact with.”

Also celebrating was staff nurse June Seggie who has worked at Bridlington Hospital for the last 25 years in a variety of roles.  June said: “I have always enjoyed working with people and find my role as a staff nurse very rewarding - I really couldn’t really envisage working elsewhere.

“I have remained at Bridlington Hospital because I like the ward and the team I work with are fantastic.”

Andrew added: “I would personally like to congratulate and thank each and every recipient for their valuable years of service.”

A long service event took place in May for staff based in York, and a further 12 staff, celebrating 40 years service, will be invited to the Trust’s annual Celebration of Achievement awards in October.