When Carol Wills first walked through the doors of the Freeman Hospital in 1979, she was a fresh school leaver with O-Levels, starting out as an apprentice pharmacy technician. Forty-seven years later, she is still working at the same Newcastle hospital, and in July she received a special NHS long service award.
She told ChronicleLive that the hospital was tiny then compared with today, and not yet linked to the RVI. "At that time, the department wasn't associated with the RVI - we were just the Freeman - and the hospital was tiny compared to what it is now. When I'd go home from work I'd be stood in fields with the horses waiting for a bus."
A profession changed beyond recognition
Carol, from North Kenton, has seen huge changes during her career, including the introduction of pharmacy robots and technicians – such as her own son – taking on key roles in life-changing clinical trials. "Pharmacy has changed so much - it's come on leaps and bounds. Really, the profession is beyond recognition. The skills people have and responsibilities we can take on are amazing. People can lead clinics, they can do all sorts!"
She explained that pharmacy technician is now a professionally recognised and registered role, which has brought more training and the ability for staff to take on greater responsibility.
Why she stayed
Carol says it is the atmosphere and the people at work that have kept her at the hospital for nearly five decades. "For me, I have found a home at Newcastle. This trust has been amazing - I would never have thought I'd be still at the same hospital, but it's always kept me interested. I'm still learning and the people I work with are amazing."
"If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't have stayed - and I still feel I have something to give. Back when I started we didn't even have computers, now there are pharmacy robots..."
She said she would always encourage people to look at pharmacy as a career, adding that she "had never looked back" and that there were "lots of opportunities" for progression. While her own job is not patient facing, she has received "lovely letters" from patients she has supported nonetheless.
