To mark the NHS’s 75th anniversary Cheryl Atkins, in the photos above, and her colleagues, tell us why West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is so special to them. They also ask if you will stand beside them as they reflect on the past and prepare for the future. Will you support the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Appeal in this special year?
“My name is Cheryl Atkins and I’ve spent my whole career nursing in Hemel Hempstead, St Albans City and Watford General hospitals. I wanted to share what that means to me and to ask if you would join me in the celebrations and support our charity’s West Hertfordshire Hospitals Appeal.
“It hardly seems possible, but I started to work with this trust when I was just 19. I first met my husband in an ambulance at A&E, and our two children went on to work here; my sister too. It’s almost a family tradition!
“People say that one of the things they are most proud of in Britain is the NHS, and I’m incredibly proud to work here. The NHS is here for all of us, from cradle to grave, and cares for us no matter what.
“If you ask what the NHS means to me, it’s that poorly people get treated in a thoughtful and compassionate way. Working in the NHS is not just a job, we care in bucketfuls. I’m now 66 and still working here because I truthfully believe that within these challenging buildings are passionate people who want to do their best.
“Charitable support has long been transformative in the NHS, helping to pay for the big things, like the latest scanner or the refurbishment of a bereavement room. Equally, kind donors support the small comforts that make all the difference, such as clocks for patients with dementia, books for sick children or wellbeing support for our hardworking staff.
“Nearly a million patients each year are cared for each year by 5,400 staff. I’ve seen many changes over the decades, and I’m so excited that we’ve got the Government’s green light for redevelopment work which will transform future care in each of our hospitals.
“Will you join our charity in standing beside us as we prepare for the future? Will you support our West Hertfordshire Hospitals Appeal?“
How your support can help transform patient care
- £15 could help buy a DAB radio – so staff and patients alike can keep up to date with the latest news, and listen to music on the wards.
- £100 could help buy a paediatric ultrasound – so babies with suspected abnormalities can quickly receive the heart scans they need.
- £1,700 could pay for a fold out relatives pull out bed – so anxious relatives can stay alongside their loved one in hospital.
Whether you choose to set up a regular gift or make a one-off donation, your support is guaranteed to be used where the need is greatest, wherever and whenever it arises. One day you and your loved ones might need critical care at your local NHS. Our NHS heroes are dedicated to making our hospitals the very best they can be. Will you help too?
