Chairman praises 700 years of NHS service

Staff from Guy’s and St Thomas’ who have accomplished 700 years of NHS service between them have been thanked for their devotion by its Chairman. There were 28 individuals who attended the Trust’s Long Service Awards for people who have provided a minimum of 25 years of service.

The Long Service Awards are funded by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity and acknowledge long serving clinical and non-clinical staff from across its 5 hospitals and community sites. The ceremony saw recognition for a wide range of staff including an inpatient ward administrator, a lung cancer clinical nurse specialist, a consultant pharmacist for HIV and a switchboard team leader.

Alison Jones, a clinical embryologist in the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy’s Hospital received acknowledgement for her long service. She is said to have supported “thousands of patients through their fertility journeys.” A colleague said: “Her work requires exceptional precision, patience, and care, from handling eggs and embryos in the laboratory to helping create embryos used in IVF treatment and carefully freezing and thawing embryos for future use. Through her dedication and technical expertise, Alison has helped many individuals and couples achieve their dream of building a family.”

Vern Theresa Gentles joined the trust as a housekeeping assistant in 2000 and now works at Guy’s Cancer Centre in the Radiotherapy Village. Vern is known for her strong work ethic, integrity, and professionalism. She is described as “a true team player”, appreciated by colleagues for her positive attitude and supportive approach. Her citation said: “Vern is also proactive and courageous in speaking up when she feels standards may be compromised or when something is not right, always striving to uphold the Trust’s values.”

Hilary Sharpe, a senior sister with the Transplant Outpatients Department at Harefield Hospital was also commended. Hilary qualified as a registered nurse in Jamaica before coming to the UK and started her NHS career with a role in the Transplant Unit at Harefield. She has built up considerable experience in her field and was described as “dedicated”, “conscientious” and “striving to achieve the very best for her patients and colleagues”. It was noted that “her positive attitude and ever-present smile make her a genuine pleasure to work with.”

Nicolas Ponte began his career in speech and language therapy in 1999 with the Adults with Learning Disability Team. Guests at the Long Service Awards heard that Nicolas has championed inclusion, independence, and high-quality care and “always amplifying” the patient’s voice. He was rewarded with the Sandra Matherin Award for Service User Participation in 2012 and is described as “a respected leader” who continues to “inspire with warmth, kindness, and compassion.”

Charles Alexander, Chairman at Guy's and St Thomas', said: "Our Long Service Awards are an important opportunity to thank and congratulate staff who have devoted so much of their working lives to the NHS. Their dedication, hard work and longevity is inspiring."