Celebrating all things Estates and Facilities. Linda pictured middle in the bottom right photo

It’s National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day on Wednesday so all this week we’re saying hats off to all in our teams in ISS, Equans and CHS.

And we’ve a real star this year…it’s long-serving Linda Mann, who’s been an Estates and Facilities colleague for 50 years - 22 years with ISS at Calderdale Royal Hospital and, before that, 28 years with the Trust at the old Halifax General Hospital. She joined back in the days of flares and platform shoes and captures the era in a comic poem she’s specially written you can read below. To mark Linda’s 50 years,  ISS arranged a presentation and celebration – pictured left - with Linda pictured, centre, with, Manager ISS Gillian Porter, and Catering Services Manager, Karen Graydon.

Linda’s poem:

Karen said, write a poem – do as you’re told!

Doesn’t this girl know that I’m really old?

If I was funny, witty and bright,

Then I might put pen to paper and know what to write ….

Shakespeare or Tennyson I am not,

So listen up ‘cos this is all I’ve got?

For a number of decades I’ve worked here,

…..That’s OK you don’t need to cheer!

When I started here, I came in m’ flares,

It was back in 1973 when I began here,

When hot pants and minis were the trend,

Platforms shoes were also the rage,

If you recall these, you’re showing your age!

I began back in the days when pandemics and Covid

Were far, far away. …….

 

To celebrate, the Estates and Facilities Team are planning some events to mark the day this coming Wednesday, 21st June. They are:

At CRH on Wednesday:

  • Display stands inside and outside the restaurant with lots of interesting facts and information around cleaning, portering and security services. For example, ISS served a whopping 401,537 patient meals in 2022
  • Food tasting from 12pm - 1pm. Samples from the patient food menu will be available to try in the main entrance - available for anyone who would like to come and have a taster
  • Equans will be putting on cakes and a buffet, as a thank you, for their team members on the 21st and 22nd June

At HRI on Wednesday:

  • Senior team walk-round to all departments
  • Buns and cake bars for all CHS staff
  • Staff automatically entered into a raffle to win some great prizes, such as Manchester United tickets, an Apple TV, gift vouchers and more
  • Showcasing CHS in the boardroom (between 12pm and 2pm)

CHS Managing Director, Stuart Sugarman is looking forward to celebrating, saying: "The National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day will build on the success of last year’s event. It is the perfect occasion for the Trust and CHS to celebrate the work of their Estates and Facilities professions, raise the profile of these staff groups for the hugely rewarding career opportunities that they offer, and reflect on the achievements and sacrifices made by people in these roles on a daily basis."