Lynne's 43-year NHS career proves a real education

PICTURED: Lynne Jones retired from the NHS last week.

Lynne Jones has called time on a 43-year NHS career – but her legacy lives on within Swansea Bay.

Having started her nurse training in 1983, Lynne officially finished her healthcare career after making a significant impact on nurse education.

Such has been her impact, the health board named the dedicated training suite she had advocated for in her honour.

Lynne’s career can be split into two parts – firstly clinical nursing, then education and recruitment.

Since qualifying as a nurse and starting her first job in the old Neath General Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department in 1986, Lynne’s career has remained in Swansea Bay.

PICTURED: Lynne (right) during the early years of her career.

After 16 years as a nurse, she moved into Corporate Nursing and became the first Practice Education Facilitator in Wales.

The role would involve supporting student nurses and their mentors. This was the start of the second half of her career in nurse education.

Lynne said: “My passion has always been for education and the support and development of others, ensuring the best possible care is provided to patients wherever they are within our services.

“So for me to have that role – the first in Wales – was a very proud moment.”

The proud moments would continue to follow.

Progressing through various senior roles in healthcare education, Lynne eventually settled in the role of Head of Nursing Education – a role she retires from this week.

Her responsibilities have included education, temporary staffing, workforce planning, domestic and recruitment.

Her dedication and commitment to the role has not gone unnoticed.

In 2023, Lynne was recognised for outstanding leadership and contributions to nursing education and recruitment when she won the Chief Nursing Officer Leadership Award.

PICTURED: Lynne during her interview on BBC's The One Show.

An appearance on prime-time television followed as Lynne featured on BBC’s The One Show showcasing the excellent work in the health board on international nurse recruitment.

The following year she was part of the health board’s Recruitment Team of the Year success at the Wales Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Awards.

Then, in her proudest moment, came a welcomed surprise in the form of a dedicated Nurse Education Training Suite being named in her honour.

It was the first time the health board had built a facility specifically for nurse development, with the suite including two rooms designed like wards, two teaching rooms, a quiet study area and clinical skills room.

It’s success, and Lynne’s reputation within NHS Wales, led to a fellow Welsh NHS Trust sending their nurses to Swansea Bay to complete their training.

Lynne said: “I always wanted to be a teacher either in English or biology, but I opted to go into nursing, but the two have combined perfectly.

“Education has been like the golden thread throughout my career and my passion to support and develop others has never waned.

“So to have the training suite in HQ named after me was one of the highlights of my career. I was overwhelmed and honoured, but equally happy that nurses have a dedicated centre to continue their education and development.”

Throughout a 43-year career, Lynne has continued to influence colleagues working within the health board and stakeholders within Wales.

Paul Stuart Davies, Executive Nursing Team, said: "Lynne has given 43 years of service to the NHS and I have been fortunate to work with her for the last 20 years as a colleague, line manager and friend.

PICTURED: Lynne with colleagues at the opening of the Nurse Education Training Suite in the health board's HQ.

“As an educator, Lynne encourages those around her to succeed and excel in their roles, she takes great pleasure in seeing them shine and grow both professionally, personally and academically. She has an ability to provide individuals with the confidence to believe in themselves. Her commitment to both education and recruitment is inspirational.

"She will be greatly missed by her team and the wider organisation together with colleagues in Health Education and Improvement Wales and Swansea University.

"I wish her all the best but will miss her approach and expert knowledge around nurse education and all she has achieved in a long and successful career."

Miranda Williams has worked alongside Lynne in the Nurse Education Team.

Miranda, Deputy Head of Nursing, said: “I have worked with Lynne for the last eight years. Her mentoring and support have been second to none.

“Her kindness shines through, and her passion for education and nursing is inspiring. She brings out the best in those around her. It has been a pleasure to work with her, and I will miss her leadership and guidance, but I wish her all the very best for her retirement.”

Lynne’s final week in Swansea Bay involved a retirement celebration in the health board’s HQ, where she got a chance to bid farewell to colleagues who she has worked with over the last four decades.

Now she can look forward to retirement, with holidays, taking up a new sport and venturing along a beautiful stretch of Wales’ coast all on the to-do list.

Lynne added: “While my career in the NHS and Swansea Bay has come to an end, I hope I’ve made a positive difference in the careers of those that are the present and future of our health board, because not only are we staff, but we are patients too.

“Educating staff leads to better health care for our community, and I’ve always taken great pride in that.

“I am a people person and it is the staff that make the NHS. I have had so many fantastic colleagues over the past 43 years.

“Now my time in the NHS is over, I’m planning to tick off a lot of places on my travel list – starting with a retirement holiday to South Africa.

“I’m also going to try my hand at golf and complete the remaining distance of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path as I’ve almost finished the 186 miles of it.”