NHS LEGEND LENA, 75, CALLS IT A DAY
She retires after working in healthcare since 1970s
A ‘LEGEND’ of healthcare has bowed out after almost half a century caring for patients in North Staffordshire.
It was when she moved to Leek with husband William in the 1970s that Lena Stockton decided she wanted to help topup his police wage.
Lena went to work at Leek Moorlands Hospital and applied to join the maternity unit – only to end up caring for elderly residents.
Seventeen years ago, at the age of 58, she felt it was time for a change and, by chance, ended up working at Park Medical Centre in Ball Haye Road as a healthcare assistant.
Now 75, Lena has left work for the final time, ending her longstanding affiliation with the local health service.
She said: “I wasn’t sure how I felt at first. It took a while to hit me, it just felt strange.
“I started in 1971 in elderly care. We didn’t have nursing homes back then, so the people lived there. It was hard work and it was all manual lifting.
“There’s nothing else like the NHS and the changes over the last 50 years have been amazing. It’s a lot more relaxed now without matrons, and you use Christian names.
“Even nurses were referred to as surnames back then.
“It’s more relaxed, but the care is a lot better.”
Having spent 33 years working at Leek, Lena decided it was time for a change, but didn’t expect to join her own GP.
She added: “There used to be two surgeries here and I came for a blood pressure check and they were advertising for a healthcare assistant.
“I was 58 and thought they’d never go for me – they’d want someone young who could give them years of service.”
During her time at Park Medical Centre, Lena has seen more than 10,000 patients, while bringing a smile to the faces of her colleagues.
Daughter Becky, aged 44, also works at the practice. She said: “It’s an amazing achievement and I’m so proud of her. She’s been here for 17 years now and we get on even better at work than we do at home.
“It will be quiet without her.” As a retirement gift, the staff at the medical centre have nominated Lena to have her name on the Thank U NHS Spitfire, as well as giving the Pembrokeshire native a necklace made of Welsh gold.
Business manager Matthew Berry said: “I speak for everyone when I say next to the word legend in the dictionary should be a picture of Lena.”