Two nurses, who have notched up more than 90 years’ service between them, have retired after dedicating their working lives to caring for others.
Chrissie Johnston and Lyn Jones both retired last month from Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a career caring for patients, supporting colleagues and inspiring future healthcare professionals.
Site matron Chrissie retired after 45 years working in NHS while Lyn’s career spanned 48 years.
Lyn’s training involved rotating between 16-week ward placements and periods of study at the School of Nursing over three years. Picture: Submitted
Chrissie, who dreamed of becoming a nurse from a young age, started in nursing at Peterborough District Hospital through an on-the-job training programme and qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1984.
She joined the QEH as a staff nurse on Leverington ward before moving into medicine on Marham ward in 1988, becoming the trust’s lead nurse for Hospital at Night in 2007, this being described as one of the defining moments in Chrissie’s career.
As the Hospital at Night service evolved in partnership with the clinical site team, Chrissie took on the role of site matron in 2015 – a position she held ever since.
Chrissie’s work as Site Matron meant she could support colleague and friend, Roger Fisher, during his battle with COVID-19. Picture: Submitted
Chrissie’s personal highlights from her career were when she won the trust’s Clinical Team of the Year Award at the staff awards and supported her colleague and friend Roger Fisher as he was discharged from hospital following a lengthy battle with Covid-19.
In preparing for retirement, Chrissie encouraged the next generation of nurses to never lose sight of the fundamentals and to always remember that patient care comes first, highlighting processes such as keyhole surgery, CT scanning, and modern endoscopy transforming patient care for the better.
She said: “Never forget the basics and always remember who you’re doing it for – the patient.
“Teamwork has kept me in this job, and I couldn’t have done it without my colleagues and friends. The QEH is a small but great hospital. We’re one family, and we always look out for each other.”
Chrissie made sure her career was focused on patient care, reminding future generations of midwives that ‘patient care comes first’. Picture: Submitted
Now Chrissie is looking forward to spending more time with her family, celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary with a special holiday, enjoying time with her grandson and exploring the UK in her caravan.
Lyn, clinical nurse educator/specialist midwife, retired at the end of July.
She began her career in 1978 as a cleaner at Napsbury Hospital before becoming an auxiliary nurse and later a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) working at Napsbury Hospital.
Lyn started her career working at Napsbury Hospital at 18 years old in 1978. Picture: Submitted
After becoming a mum, Lyn felt inspired to explore midwifery and undertook an advanced nursing programme to convert from an RMN to a Registered General Nurse in 1986 before qualifying as a midwife in 1990.
She cared for families at Peterborough City Hospital for three more decades before retiring and returning to the profession in 2015. In 2023, Lyn moved to the QEH to continue this work as part of the practice development team.
Reflecting on her career, Lyn said that one of the most rewarding aspects has been supporting and developing the next generation of nurses and midwives, even nominating student midwife Nancy Williams-Eley for a National Excellence Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to maternity care. Nancy won the prestigious award – one of the highest honours for student midwives – in May.
Lyn’s career revolved around her love for supporting and developing the next generation of nurses and midwives. Picture: Submitted
Lyn said: “I couldn’t have been prouder.”
Lyn also spent eight years teaching at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), helping to shape the future workforce. Supporting students to develop their skills and confidence has been a highlight of her career.
Sharing her advice for future nurses and midwives, she said: “Never lose your passion and always remember why you started, regardless of how the landscape changes.”
Lyn spent eight years teaching at Anglia Ruskin University alongside her work at the NHS. Picture: Submitted
Retirement won’t mean slowing down for Lyn. Alongside her NHS career, she qualified as a holistic therapist and plans to continue supporting expectant mothers through pregnancy yoga and hypnobirthing classes.
Dawn Collins, QEH chief nurse, said: “Chrissie and Lyn have dedicated their working lives to caring for others and have made an immeasurable contribution to our hospital, our patients and their colleagues. Their professionalism, kindness and commitment have left a lasting mark on the QEH, and they will both be greatly missed.
“On behalf of everyone at the QEH, I would like to thank them for their remarkable service and wish them every happiness in their retirement.”
Reporting by Millie Follen