Wolverhampton healthcare worker retires after more than 45 years

Sylvia Jones (with the flowers) is retiring after more than 45 years at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

A dedicated healthcare worker has called time on her career after nearly half a century of service to the NHS.

Sylvia Jones, 66, is retiring after more than 45 years at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT).

Ms Jones, who worked as a ward receptionist in maternity at New Cross Hospital until retiring, said: "Working on maternity has been my life."

Known as "Sylv" to her colleagues, Ms Jones insisted on working Christmas Day, which was one of her final shifts.

"What I've enjoyed most is seeing women before they've had their babies and leaving with their babies afterwards," the grandmother-of-three said.

"It's been lovely to know lots of people, some of whom I still keep in touch with."

Ms Jones, who is from Essington, joined the NHS in March 1975 when she started work as a junior secretary at the former Royal Hospital. She moved to New Cross Hospital later that year.

'Not even born then'

Apart from an 18-month break to have her two children, the Willenhall-born healthcare worker has been employed at New Cross ever since, working in every department in maternity since August 1984.

Lynne Clarke, directorate support manager at the NHS trust, said: "Sylv has worked for the NHS since 1975 - and we often joke that most of us weren't even born then.

"She's always happy in her work and even though technology has advanced over her working life, she's always given 100 per cent to everything she's done even though she always prefers paper and pen over any computer.

"Sylv's been a delight to work with for my eight years in maternity. She's always reliable and is a friend to everyone. She'll be sorely missed."

The musical theatre lover plans to enjoy bottomless brunches and afternoon teas in her retirement, as well as continuing to make personalised greetings cards, which colleagues will now miss on their birthdays.

She also plans to spend more time with her children, her three granddaughters, and her husband of 45 years, Don, with whom she goes on trips in their recently-acquired campervan.