We celebrated our long-serving staff with an award ceremony recognising those who’ve worked at our Trust for 20, 30, and 40 years.

Our long service awards honoured 50 colleagues, who between them have an incredible 1,100 years’ experience of working with us. 

The 50 recipients were invited to receive their awards and gifts, and have afternoon tea at Orsett Hall on Monday 24 April.

They were presented their awards by our Chair Jacqui Smith and Chief Executive Matthew Trainer.

Aileen Soliven was among those honoured, receiving a 20-year award. She joined us as a staff nurse in November 2001, and is currently a clinical nurse educator in our neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).

“I really enjoyed the awards and it was really nice to speak with Jacqui and Matthew. BHRUT and especially NICU have been a big part of my life, I gave birth to both of my children here and have always been well supported both as a member of staff and while giving birth.”

Aileen is originally from the Philippines and admitted to feeling homesick when she moved here.

She said: “At first I felt really anxious living in a country where I didn’t know anybody, but my colleagues were very supportive and helpful with the transition. It also used to be expensive to phone my mum back in the Philippines but it’s a lot easier now with Wi-Fi and video calls!”

Another member of staff who received a 20-year award was Karen Peters, head of operational transformation.

She started as a staff nurse at Oldchurch Hospital, and has also worked as a night nurse practitioner and a bed and site manager.

Karen, whose husband, son, and stepdaughter all work at our Trust too, said: “Nursing has changed so much from when I started, there are far more nurses on the wards than there used to be, and as I’ve changed roles, I see it from a different perspective now than when I was on the shop floor.

“The awards was a really nice opportunity to see a lot of colleagues who I haven’t seen in a while, and people were so happy and proud to be celebrating working here for so long.”

Jacqui Smith said: “It was a privilege to celebrate the service, commitment and skills of staff who’ve shown their loyalty to the Trust over many years.

“The fact that so many have stayed here and devoted their lives to the patients we care for is one of the many things that makes this organisation so special.”