After 29 years with the Trust, Carol Crowther is leaving on a career break for a new life in Qatar* to be with her husband who teaches English there.

She's initially taking a career break for 12 months so we haven’t seen the last of her yet. 

Carol started her career as an Auxilliary Nurse, but after seven years of working on the wards she decided she wanted a change in career.  She chose to go back into admin, and to gain more qualifications she started attending night school while juggling a  young family.

Luckily for Carol they were building a Day Surgery Unit where an Office Supervisor was required.  She interviewed and got the post and is now the Office Manager on the Day Surgery Unit, HRI.

She says: " I would say to anyone new joining the Trust to embrace the philosophy ‘we are always here for the patient’.  We work in a highly demanding unique environment and sometimes the reward is not always easy to see until we focus on why we are here, which is to improve the quality of people’s lives. No matter how hard it gets if we keep focusing on the benefits we bring to people, you will get amazing things from this job."

She hails her team's netball triumph as a career highlight. “One of the best memories I have is putting a netball team together to compete against other departments within the Trust.  Some of the girls had never played netball in their lives let alone knew the rules.  As I play netball myself  I was able to take them to our training sessions where they gained confidence, knowledge and understanding…oh and the rules….and guess what we won the tournament, we actually came first  I was so proud of my reception team not only for winning the tournament but also for wanting to participate in something that I have a strong passion for.”

And thanks Matron Jane Frost for "having a heart of pure gold".  “I would like to shout out a big thank you to Matron Jane Frost for recognising my true potential and having the belief and faith in me all those years ago.  She has helped me achieve my goals within my current post, has been very supportive, and gave me a shoulder to cry on when times were tough.  She has not only been my Manager but has become a very close friend.  Someone I can depend and rely on and has a pure heart of gold. “

She says she will miss  "being part of something magical."   When you see the anguish in patients' faces it is a privilege to then be able to help in the process of making them better.  I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and in particular some fantastic consultants who help to change people’s lives but are so approachable.  I will mostly miss my work family (the reception girlies).  I could not have done without their support over the years."

Facts on Qatar - see attached map for its location

• It's the venue for the next World Cup in 2022
• Weekends are Fridays and Saturdays
• Arabic is the national language
• It borders Saudi Arabia
• Summer temperatures can top 50C
• It's wealth is based on resources of Natural Gas.