Celebrating our long-serving staff

Congratulations to the dedicated RFL staff who are receiving this year's long service awards. 

Every year, these awards are given to members of staff who have been at the trust for 25 or 40 years. It's recognition of their hard work and commitment over many years.

For 71 staff members celebrating 25 years of service, a personal letter was sent out from group chief executive Peter Landstrom, including messages of thanks and support from managers and colleagues.

Two members of staff - Bernadette Henderson and Andre Borowski - have achieved 40 years' service. 

Chief executive of Barnet Hospital, and acting chief executive of Chase Farm Hospital, Deborah Sanders surprised them both with a visit, presenting them with a certificate and voucher along with some words of thanks.

Deborah presented the first award to Bernadette Henderson, therapy services governance lead – advanced clinical practitioner, in the Woodlands Unit at Barnet Hospital.

Deborah said: "'We've come along to congratulate you on your 40 years of service. It's a fantastic achievement. Having worked in many different roles, you have been instrumental in developing and shaping the service and an integral part of our senior team leading on quality and safety. Your compassion and kindness is highly valued by everyone. Thank you and congratulations."

Receiving her award, Bernadette reflected: "Barnet Hospital has played a significant part in my life story. I was employed originally as a 'basic grade physiotherapist', since then both the hospital and I have been through many changes and evolutions."

Deborah also presented Andre Borowski with his award at Chase Farm Hospital outpatients X-ray yesterday.

She said: "Huge congratulations to Andre on his 40 years of service. It was lovely to see his colleagues be so pleased to him and to hear from them about what he means to them. It's such a special milestone and everyone at the RFL thanks him for his service."

Andre added:

"I came here as an agency radiographer just before Christmas 1983, and I worked as agency for several months and actually knew the superintendent from a previous agency position. In March they offered me a fulltime job, starting on April Fools' Day! I remind myself of that date every year.

"I live a five minute's walk away and that was always a positive for me - it is a nice area to live in as well as work in. In those 40 years I learned a few more modalities like CT and dental work, and I saw the introduction of digital. I went to Barnet to use some of the equipment there which was new and different to what we had here. Lots of changes and experiences overall."

Thank you to the following staff for 25 years' service: