A 70-year-old woman from Swansea has marked two major milestones: her 70th birthday and more than 52 years of service to the NHS. Anita Steel's remarkable career began with a chance encounter in a supermarket during the 1970s, which ultimately led to an audience with the now King Charles.
A chance meeting that changed everything
While working at Tesco as a 17-year-old mother, a recommendation to 'give working in the NHS a go' proved far more fruitful than Anita could have imagined. That conversation resulted in more than half a century of service for Swansea Bay University Health Board, where Anita continues to work today.
Royal endorsement
After completing a three-year training programme in 1977, Anita received her qualification from the then Prince Charles. She recalled: 'I was just 18 when I started my training, and when I completed that I was handed my certificate by Prince Charles. It was quite surreal meeting him. As it was a Jubilee year, he presented it at a special ceremony in the Brangwyn Hall. He asked me where I worked and what I did, and I told him I was part of recovery in theatre – it's where we wake patients up. He replied 'oh and how do you do that? With a kiss?' which was quite funny.'
A career of dedication
Anita works as a scrub practitioner, supporting surgeons during operations by preparing surgical equipment, passing instruments and upholding rigorous sterile protocols to safeguard patient wellbeing. Over her 52 years with the NHS, she has witnessed the advancement of computers and digital technology, the emergence of the internet, medical innovations from early surgical methods to minimally invasive procedures and robotics, and the remarkable resilience shown by healthcare workers throughout the Covid pandemic.
Despite all the transformations, one element has stayed unchanged. Anita, who now works 20 hours a week, said: 'The reason I have continued to work here is my dedication to patients and working alongside colleagues who I consider life-long friends. Working in a hospital environment is a pressurised setting, but we all work well together and keep our morale up as best as we can. For me, the best thing about my job is caring for people. That means a lot to me. I'm regularly told that I am a very unique character who always puts others first including my family and colleagues. That's down to my mother, who was my biggest role model – she brought me and my family up to be caring and appreciative of family, love and life.'
She continued: 'Fifty two years is obviously a very long time to work in the same place – I guess it's pretty rare these days – but from the day I started I did see myself working a long time here. I'm thankful that I still provide care to others and I have a family with an excellent work ethic – my two grand-daughters work within the health board while one of my daughters is manager of a nursing home. So providing care is at the heart of the family.'
Recognition from colleagues
Jonathan Gates, Head of Nursing Surgery, said: 'Through every decade of change, challenge and progress Anita has been a constant. For over 50 years, she has shown unwavering commitment, professionalism and compassion - supporting patients, colleagues and the wider theatre team with quiet dedication and expertise. To turn 70 still at work, doing what she has done for over half a century, is nothing short of remarkable. It speaks volumes about her character, work ethic and passion for care. Anita's contribution cannot be measured simply in years - it is measured in the countless patients she's helped, the colleagues she's supported and the standards she's upheld every single day. Anita is not just a colleague, she is part of the fabric of Morriston Theatres.'
