End of shift for nurse Helen
Farewell to NHS after 41 years
It was very moving to see the number of colleagues who turned up to say farewell
Shirley Thomson PDSA shop
A top nurse from Bannockburn has retired after more than four decades working in the NHS.
NHS Forth Valley child protection nurse adviser Helen Ballantyne (60), retired on Thursday after 41 years service.
Helen has lived in Bannockburn for most of her life and started working as a nursery nurse in the children’s ward of the former Stirling Royal Infirmary when she was 18.
She then moved to Yorkhill to train as a children’s nurse at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Helen later returned to Stirling to work in paediatrics and also completed her training as a Registered General Nurse for adults.
In 1999 Helen decided to leave acute nursing to focus on community nursing.
She worked as a school nurse for many years and then trained as a health visitor providing advice and support to hundreds of local families.
In 2008 she moved into child protection and completed her Masters in Child
Welfare and Protection.
She was initially based with the multidisciplinary child protection team based at Larbert Police Station before moving back to work with the child protection team at Stirling Community Hospital.
Helen received a fantastic send off from Professor Angela Wallace, NHS FV’s Director of Nursing, and colleagues across the organisation who have worked with her during her long nursing career.
As well as lots of lovely flowers and fizz, she received a voucher to buy a piece of art and a gin set with matching designer glasses.
Helen said: “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband David, daughter Kym and my son Scott who lives in America.
“I also enjoy travelling and have already booked a trip to see my son. I also enjoy yoga and dancing.
“It was very moving to see the number of colleagues who turned up to say farewell.
“I’ve had a fantastic career in nursing which I have really enjoyed but now I’m looking forward to some more free time.”