Cheltenham General Hospital site manager celebrates 50 years in the NHS
Sharon Cornwell began her career in 1975 as a student nurse at Cheltenham General Hospital
Today (September 3), a site manager from Cheltenham General Hospital is celebrating 50 years of service in the NHS.
Sharon Cornwell began her student nurse training at Cheltenham General Hospital the day after her 18th birthday in 1975, attending the Cheltenham School of Nursing.
After she qualified in 1978 she worked as a staff nurse on two different wards.
In 1980, at the age of just 23 and a half, Sharon became the youngest sister employed at Cheltenham General Hospital when she was appointed a Junior sister on Ward 3.
After the birth of her son in 1985, Sharon returned to full time days.
The following year she moved to nights and working as a Night Sister, a role she carried out for 10 years. She managed incidents and events across the hospital out of hours.
In 1998 she returned to day duty as a Ward Manager of Prescott Ward.
Sharon went on to open one of the first surgical assessment areas in the country. Her model was so successful that staff from other trusts visited to learn from her work.
In 2017 Sharon became a Site Manager, a position she still holds today.
Nursing colleague Julia Cross has reflected on Sharon's career:
“She was never interested in progression for status but for the right reasons, for patients and for her staff. She encouraged everyone around her to be the best they could be.”
Julia added, “She has always been the best advocate any patient could want.”