Natalie earns top health honour
A HEALTHCARE Assistant working in East Lancashire Hospitals
NHS Trust has received a top award after building up her confidence and self-belief to take on a demanding job at the Trust’s Emergency Department.
Natalie Taylor, from Accrington, was named top at the England Country Final of The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards, which recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.
Natalie, 30, joined in summer 2020 through The Prince’s Trust Get Into Hospital Services programme which provides short placements across various departments. Prior to this, she was a stay-at-home mum to her five young children, the youngest born with a chronic lung condition and required 24-hour care.
Natalie said: “I really struggled finding work when I was looking after my children and I hadn’t had a job for five years by the time I reached out to The Prince’s Trust.
“Especially with my little girl being poorly, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to work.
“I’d always wanted to work for the NHS and become a nurse though - even more so when I had
my daughter and became her full-time carer. Being at home with five children and not seeing many people especially during lockdown, my confidence and self-belief was really low.
“On the course, I realised that I could work in a hospital and I just needed to believe in myself.”
Following her placement, the Trust offered Natalie a full-time position in the Emergency Department at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.
She added: “No matter how hard and tiring work can be, I just love looking after my patients and I wouldn’t change my job for the world.
“My job has changed me as a person. I’m happier at home and around the kids now.”