A nurse has done her final tour of the ward after five decades of caring for the city’s sick and ill.
Noeleen Griggs has called time on a career in the NHS spanning 50 years – and one which has seen two generations of family follow in her footsteps.
Ward 2b’s conservatory played host to Noeleen for her retirement party as she was joined by colleagues from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, friends and family at Royal Preston Hospital.
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The Fulwood health hero started her training in 1971 at the old Royal Infirmary in Preston and completed placements at Deepdale Hospital.
In the early 1980s she returned to Sharoe Green before settling into the neurosurgery specialism she choose and stayed for the rest of her career.
Noeleen said: “It’s incredible when you think about it. I never imagined I’d do 50 years.”
During her retirement speech she touched on the technological changes and the old Nightingale wards layout.
She said: “One of the biggest changes was when technology came in. Being one of the older nurses, it took me longer than everyone else – and I probably still haven’t mastered it.”
She paid tribute to her son James who helped nudge her into the digital age, getting her first mobile phone to help her navigate her e-learning of NHS modules.
Noeleen said her career highlight was simple: “The people. I’ve worked with so many generations – from those I trained with, to nurses in their early twenties. There’s a lot of mutual respect. They value your experience, and you learn from them too.”
It was a family affair for Noeleen in retirement as she was joined by her daughter Anneen Carlisle who is trust operational officer and granddaughter Amelia Carlisle who is a sister and charge nurse in the surgical assessment unit.
Paying tribute to her mother, Anneen delivered a speech on behalf of her siblings Justine, Kate, James, and daughter Amelia, sharing a heartfelt tribute to her mum.
She said: “For over 50 years you have worn your uniform with pride, strength, and compassion. You worked nights while the rest of the world slept. You gave your heart, your energy, and your time again and again – and you did it all so well.
“Through everything, you’ve shown us what dedication, resilience, and true compassion look like. We are so proud of you.”
Anneen fondly recalled her mother’s rare days off – trips into town, days out, movie nights and watching Casualty only for her mother to regularly point out all the slip-ups and inaccuracies such as upside-down oxygen masks or declaring patients ‘would never survive that’.
She also drew laughter about how in August 1977 when news of Elvis Presley’s death was announced Noeleen needed an urgent day off due to being so distraught.
Noeleen is now enjoying her retirement with devoted husband Alan, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to keep her busy and a long-planned trip to Florence in May.
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