CARING IS MY FORTY
Dedicated support worker marks special year with an award nomination
IT’S a special year for the NHS as it celebrates 70 years of providing quality healthcare free at the point of delivery. And it’s also a big year for Mairi Reilly, who marked 40 years of service in the NHS earlier this month.
The 59-year-old, from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, always wanted to work in the caring profession and has dedicated her life to looking after others.
Now the AHP assistant practitioner in Glasgow Royal Infirmary’s physiotherapy and occupational health department has been nominated in the Support Worker category at this year’s Scottish Health Awards.
Mairi said: “I celebrated 40 years of service on August 14. I started out as an auxiliary nurse, then about 13 years ago, I came into the AHP (allied health professions) side of it all.
“My role includes both physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
“I really enjoy my job and helping patients who need it. I like putting them at ease while they are in hospital and giving them the confidence to be able to go home and live as independently as they can or, if they can’t, to receive the support they need.”
She added: “My favourite part of the job is building a rapport with the patients. I like to get to know them. It’s great to see them progress.”
As well as progressing within her career to now being on the highest grade available to unregistered staff, Mairi has also taken on the role as a clinical educator to pass on her skills and knowledge to the next generation.
She said she got just as much out of the experience as those she was teaching, adding: “I got good feedback but it also helped me in my role and with my own development as well.
“I didn’t go to college but, while working in the NHS, the opportunities have been available for me to do courses along the way.”
Mairi added: “I was honoured to be nominated but there are other people who work here who are really good too, so I see the nomination as being on behalf of the other healthcare workers in the team.”