Pam McIvor who works for University Hospitals Tees, started her career as an auxiliary in May 1975, at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton.
Fifty years later, she is now the clinical lead for urgent community response, Hospital@Home and the end-of-life care co-ordination service at the same hospital she started her career in and is showing no signs of retiring.
She said:
Nursing has always been more than just a job for me, it’s a vocation.”
Pam was first inspired to become a nurse after visiting her father in hospital after he suffered a heart attack.
With support from the trust, she gained a place at the College of Ripon and St John to start her nurse training (Adult Branch) and qualified in 1998.
She quickly found her niche working within the community and following further study, secured a BA (Hons) in adult nursing at York University before going on to complete a BSc (Hons) in specialist practitioner district nursing degree at Durham University in 2001.
Within her 50-year career, Pam has worked in many different roles.
Then in 2003, she was promoted to clinical lead for fast response/intermediate care and prisons for NHS Yorkshire and York in 2003, where she was responsible for overseeing healthcare within local prisons and delivering nurse led clinics.
A royal occasion
Over the years, Pam has had a lasting impact on so many lives, however there is one special event that has had a lasting impact on her.
In 2016, Pam was asked to attend the Queen’s Garden party at Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Royal College of Nursing, as part of their 100th anniversary celebrations.
She said: “I have been a member of the Royal College of Nursing board for many years and it is something I am very passionate about, so to be asked to represent the board on the year of their centenary was a true honour.
“It was such a special day within my career and one that I will never forget.”
Reflecting on her 50-year career in the NHS, Pam said:
“I come from a family of workers, and I feel like I have worked hard over the years to go from an auxiliary with no qualifications at 19 to completing a master’s in international management at the age of 60.
I absolutely love my job; it gives me a real focus in life and I have been fortunate to work with so many incredible people along the way, many of whom I now count as family.
“I have made the decision to re-validate again this year because I’m just not ready to retire yet.”
A special celebration
To mark the special milestone, colleagues old and new, gathered to hold a special celebration event for Pam.
One of those in attendance was Allison Cummings.
The two first met over 45 years ago, when Pam was working on the male medical ward at the Friarage as an auxiliary nurse.
Through the years, their paths have continued to cross and currently, they both work within the urgent community response department at the Friarage.
Alison paid tribute to her colleague and friend.
She said: “From those early days dishing out bed pans and sluices together, I feel honoured to be here with Pam today to celebrate her 50 years of service in the NHS.
What she has achieved within her career is nothing short of remarkable and I am proud to know her.”