Staff and volunteers in Cornwall recognised for their service to the NHS
Cornwall colleagues have been invited to attend a special NHS 75 service at Westminster Abbey
Cornwall NHS staff are among around 1,500 from across the UK at a special NHS 75 service.
10 people in Cornwall have been invited to attend the special ceremony at Westminster Abbey, along with their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, senior government and political leaders and health leaders.
As well as the national celebrations - landmark sites across the Duchy will light up blue on Wednesday evening, including St Michael's Mount.
Lesley Beresford is one of those invited to the NHS event, after her career first began in 1970.
She told us: "I'm just myself and it is quite humbling to know that just being myself, listening to people, talking to people and helping where I can, made such a difference to their life.
"I came across a husband and wife who were walking together, the lady came to me said 'I know who you were, five years ago you used to come and und visit my mother, she used to like your visits. THat will stick with me forever.
Lesley Beresford's career when she got her first job in the social therapy department at the old St Lawrence's Hospital in Bodmin. A year later she started her Registered Mental Training to become a mental health nurse. On 24 September 2023, she will have worked for the health service for 53 years.
Lesley's first role was on the female acute admission ward and covered everything from temperature checks and bowel charts to cleaning out lockers, windows and floors. She moved on to hold roles such as ward sister, night sister and community psychiatric nurse, before a change in direction to the newly formed Continuing Health Care team.
To begin with, she was the only CHC nurse assessor to start with covering the whole of Cornwall and she still enjoys that role and building relationships with her patients to this day!
Watch Lesley's story:
Others from Cornwall attending the NHS Westminster service.
Alison Butterill
Alison started working in general practice in 1992 on a youth training scheme, at what is now the Three Spires Medical Practice in Truro. In 2003 she became Practice Manager at Phoenix Surgery in Camborne and studied for a management degree in her spare time. 10 years later she became Practice Manager at Helston Medical Centre and, in 2016, was asked to join the partnership.
Alison has seen many changes during her career in general practice, including working through the COVID-19 pandemic and helping to find a solution when their neighbouring practice handed back its GMS contract. The partnership took on the new contract for Meneage Street surgery in April 2023, securing provision for its registered patients and job security for its incredible team.
Alison said: "I have always been honoured to work in the NHS and, in particular, general practice. The dedication of our practice teams undoubtedly enables us to cope in the most challenging of times".
Dr Allison Hibbert
Dr Allison Hibbert has worked for the NHS for 25 years, starting as a physio support worker and phlebotomist before qualifying as a doctor in London in 2003. She has been a local GP in North and East Cornwall since 2008 and is currently the lead GP for Launceston Community Hospital, with an interest in the care of older adults and supporting education of healthcare professionals.
Dr Hibbert is also the GP Clinical Lead for dementia for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and chairs the Cornwall Dementia Partnership. Working with system partners across health, social care and the voluntary sector, championing for improvements in dementia diagnosis and care in Cornwall and wanting to make dementia "everyone's business". She recently worked with colleagues from Healthwatch Cornwall and Memory Cafes to gather views of carers and people living with dementia to help shape services. Healthwatch produced 'Hear our Voice' report as a result of this work.
Sarah Tilston
Sarah Tilston knew she wanted to work with children "doing something medical" when she joined the NHS in 1984 and, after finding a leaflet about orthoptics at the bottom of the careers drawer at school, visited a local clinic and realised that she had found what she wanted to do.
Sarah went from qualifying as an orthoptist in 1987 to being Clinical Lead for the Community Children's Eye Services in Enfield and Hertfordshire. She worked in schools during a brief career break, as well as volunteering as a school governor. 6 years ago, she became the Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, working across the Integrated Care Board, health providers and the council's SEND team to improve the experience of children and young people with SEND who also have health needs. She has received two awards for innovation, for ensuring that children with special needs could access appropriate eye tests and for improving the quality of health information for education, health and care plans.
Sarah said: "I joined the NHS to make a difference for children and I hope that that is my legacy".
Dr Jim Huddy
Perranporth GP Dr Jim Huddy has spent the last five years writing advice and guidance for other GPs across Cornwall, to inform them of the dangers of opioid medicines. Off the back of that work, Cornwall's high prescribing has dropped down to national average levels.
Leading the Chronic Pain in Cornwall team, Dr Huddy is now raising awareness and availability of the alternatives to pills for the management of long-term pain. The team has recently set up a network of pain cafes across Cornwall, as part of a five-year project to 'de-medicalise' pain management for people living with chronic pain.
Sean Jennings
Former mechanical engineer Sean Jennings was 32 when he had what he thought was a routine hernia operation. Since that day, Sean has suffered chronic pain. He was prescribed opioids, gabapentin and antidepressants for 25 years but is now 5 years medication free thanks to distraction and mindfulness techniques, along with exercise and movement to manage his pain.
Sean has used the last 5 years to tell his story to clinicians and patients, advocating 'skills not pills'. He has played a key role in helping set up Cornwall's new network of pain cafes.
Lisa Johnson
Lisa Johnson is Head of Infection Prevention and Control and System Director of Infection Prevention and Control for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board. She has strategic oversight of hospital, community, primary care and care home settings, and promotes and relies upon collaborative networks.
Lisa has worked for the NHS since starting nurse training in 1986. She has held posts within acute, community, specialist and teaching trusts in London, Northampton and Cornwall, as well as 6 years with the former Health Protection Agency leading on TB and resilience. Lisa also has qualifications in orthopaedic nursing, TB nursing, infection control nursing, a Master's degree in public health, a post-graduate certificate in education and recently passed a post-graduate module in systems thinking and practice.
Louise Moore
Louise started working for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Family Practitioner Committee in 1990 as a typist in the typing pool. This was her first job after college and she has seen many organisational changes in that time.
Louise has worked in various departments, including corporate affairs, IT, personnel, complaints. She is currently part of the communications and engagement team.
Natalie Swann
Natalie has been the Research and Evidence Manager for Healthwatch Cornwall since 2017. She was nominated for her work on the recently published 'Hear Our Voice' report on local dementia and memory loss services and support.
Natalie has always been passionate about ensuring people's experiences are at the heart of service improvement in Cornwall, having also worked as a Care Quality Commission hospital inspector and in roles to improve health outcomes over the last 20 years.
History of the NHS:
NHS is established
The National Health Service was formally established in 1948 at what is now Trafford General Hospital in Manchester. The service was started by Aneurin Bevan under the government of Clement Atlee. Its aim was to create a system of free healthcare to all. One of the first patients was Sylvia Diggory, aged 13, who was suffering from a liver condition.
Prescription charges introduced
Soon after its inception, charges for prescriptions and dental care were introduced. Each prescription would cost one shilling, while dental care would require a £1 payment. Charges would eventually be dropped and then reinstated in 1968.
NHS discoveries
Throughout the 1950s, thanks to the pioneering technology the NHS was using, a number of medical advancements were made. Polio vaccinations were rolled out in the UK, the structure of DNA was found and the link between smoking and cancer was proven.
Treating new diseases
As time went on and the NHS grew, so did its capacity to look after those who were unable to be treated before. The Mental Health Act in 1983 was the first time the concept of consent was raised in treating those with mental health issues. Nurses also treated people suffering from AIDS in the late 1980s and, together with the government, helped to reduce the stigma of the disease, which primarily affected gay men.
Opening to the public
In order to cope with the increasing demand for the NHS, the structure of the service changed. In 1991, NHS Trusts were established in the first of a wave of reorganisation for the service. People would later be able to donate organs more easily with the introduction of the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Stretched resources
In the 21st century, the NHS came under pressure as a result of stretched resources. With the rising cost of medicines, the government voted to bring in longer working hours and minimal increases in pay for NHS staff in 2015. This resulted in a mass picket of junior doctors around the country for better working conditions. It was the first general strike in the NHS' history and the first instance of industrial action in 40 years. There have been further strikes in 2023
NHS during coronavirus
In 2020, a new disease named COVID-19 began to spread around the world, eventually reaching the UK at the end of January. The resulting pandemic led to NHS workers being on the frontline of the disease. Support for the NHS grew massively and during lockdowns, so-called "Claps for Carers" would take place every Thursday to thank the NHS and its staff for protecting the public during the pandemic.