Celebrating NHS Orkney’s longest serving staff and saying thank you
Yesterday we recognised and celebrated staff who this year, mark 40 plus years’ service to NHS Orkney and the NHS.
Staff who were thanked and recognised for their impressive service to the NHS and NHS Orkney and who mark these milestones in 2025, were:
- Wendy Forber – Midwife (46 years)
- Morag Linklater – Midwife (41 years)
- Elaine Toms – GP (41 years)
- Janet Burgon – Community Mental Health Nurse (40 years)
- Michelle Grieve – Domestic, Laundry, Porter and Security Team Lead (40 years)
- Deirdre Montgomery – Community Nurse (East) (40 years)
- Julia Rendall – Senior Healthcare Support Worker (40 years)
- Kathleen Ross – Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Flotta) (40 years)
- Val Stonehouse – Community Mental Health Operational Manager (40 years)
- Sarah Walker – Head of Infection Prevention (40 years)
- Pamela Walker – Intravitreal Injection Nurse (40 years)
The event, led by our Chief Executive, Laura Skaife-Knight and Non-Executive Directors Joanna Kenny and Jean Stevenson, was a special moment of reflection and reminiscing with plenty of story-telling over sandwiches and cakes, with those in attendance receiving their long service trophy, certificate and flowers.
Laura said: “Recognising and celebrating Long Service matters to our staff, to our Board and to me very much. In the week the NHS marks its 77th birthday it was fitting to hold our 2025 Long Service Awards.
Our long-serving staff are the backbone of our organisation, the DNA of the NHS and make the NHS what it is and NHS Orkney is no exception. I am incredibly proud of all of our long serving staff and would like to recognise their dedication and loyalty over the last four to five decades, which is simply incredible. I’d also like to thank the family members and those closest to these staff as this support from our loved ones enables us to do the jobs we do for our patients and community and this should be recognised also.”
Joanna said: “It was an honour to attend the awards ceremony and to have the opportunity to personally thank our longest-serving staff for their incredible contributions to our patients and community over the last 40 plus years.”
Jean said: “I was delighted to be part of this special occasion to recognise our longest-serving colleagues who have for 40 years plus, been caring for our patients and community at NHS Orkney. It was a pleasure to see how much this meant to those who were present as well as their families, along with other Board members.”
Meghan McEwen, Chair said: “I’m delighted that we can recognise and celebrate the loyalty colleagues have shown to the NHS and NHS Orkney for an amazing number of years. We thank all of these staff for the vital contributions they have and continue to make to our patients and our community.”
Long Service Awards are part of NHS Orkney’s Value and Recognition Programme which we have relaunched in response to staff feedback about how much such events mean to them and the importance of celebrating and recognising people’s contributions and achievements throughout the year. These awards are possible thanks to the support of the Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds – a registered Scottish charity.
Pictured, back row, from left to right are, Val Stonehouse, Michelle Grieve, Joanna Kenny and Laura Skaife-Knight.
Front row, from left to right, Pamela Walker, Jean Stevenson, Sarah Walker, Julia Rendall and Wendy Forber. (Missing from the photograph are Janet Burgon, Morag Linklater, Deirdre Montgomery, Kathleen Ross and Elaine Toms).