Publish date: 15 November 2023
Celebrating 25 years of Northumbria Healthcare
It was celebration time at Northumbria as one of the most successful NHS organisations marked a quarter of a century of helping patients in the North East.
2023 marks 25 years of Northumbria Healthcare and the milestone was celebrated with a special birthday cake which was cut by long-serving volunteer, Anne Ward, alongside chief executive, Sir James Mackey and chairman, Sir Paul Ennals.
Anne Ward, who is from North Tyneside started her long association with North Tyneside General Hospital in 1985 as a volunteer with the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS).
In 1992 the WRVS asked Anne to take a leading role as Deputy Met Organiser at the hospital, a post she held until her retirement in 2004.
Northumbria Healthcare launched its own Volunteer Service in 2004 and Anne stayed on as a volunteer to support the development of the service.
Anne has worked closely with the team throughout offering support and advice for 25 years. Currently, Anne spends hours organising the rotas for volunteers who provide the meet and greet service and the buggy service.
Anne is always willing to help or promote the work of the Northumbria Volunteer Service (NVS) and Bright Northumbria Charity.
Reflecting on her time with the service Anne said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering with Northumbria Healthcare and making friends with the other volunteers and staff at the hospital.
“There has been so much that I have got out of volunteering for over 35 years, and I’d like to thank all the people I have met throughout my time for making it such a positive experience.
“It was a privilege to be asked to come along to celebrate the 25th anniversary and I have loved playing a part in the journey of Northumbria Healthcare.”
Northumbria Healthcare’s chief executive, Sir James Mackey said: “It was brilliant to come together to celebrate the milestone of 25 years of Northumbria Healthcare.
“It was fantastic to have Anne with us to cut the celebration cake after everything she has done for us over the years. The time and dedication that she has given to the volunteering service is very much appreciated and we wouldn’t be where we are today without the hard work of all our volunteers and staff.”
Media contact
Emily Lavin, marketing and communications officer
emily.lavin@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk or 07887985929