Ward 10's stalwart healthcare assistant Gillian Wood notched up 40 years with the NHS this week.. and still has no plans to retire.

She's been 24 years on the ward after 15 years at St Luke's. She started her training on March 5 1978 living in the nurses quarters in what is now the Learning Centre at HRI. The photos attached are from her early years.

She loves her ward and praises ward manager Kathy Clune and junior sister Denice Cowgill for leading the team and setting high standards.

She said: " I wouldn't want to work anywhere else there's such a good spirit on here. It is hard work and always busy and there are high expectations of us but it is fantastic."

Her daughter Harriet is following in mum's career footsteps and is a HCA on the stroke ward at CRH.

To mark her special day on Monday her colleagues presented her with a gold foil badge and a congratulations card. She will also attend a Long service ceremony to collect her 40th certificate.

Gillian, who turned 60 last September, reckons walking her dog Woody helps keep her fit and work keep her happy.

She said: " Things have changed. When I started there was no manual handling and it has hard heavy work. Computers are all new but thanks to ESR I discovered it was my actual 40th on Monday when I only  knew it was there or there abouts!"