A matron who has cared for patients for almost 44 years is retiring after a nursing career which has involved more than 15 different roles in hospitals across Norfolk.
Jeanette Taylor started her career in 1981 as a pupil nurse at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, when it was based in the city centre – fulfilling a childhood ambition.
“My mum had been quite unwell when I was young, and I think that planted the idea of becoming a nurse in my mind. I wanted to make a difference,” said Jeanette.
After completing her training and becoming an enrolled nurse, Jeanette cared for patients on wards both at the Norfolk and Norwich and nearby West Norwich Hospital.
She became a staff nurse in 1998 after completing a conversion course at the UEA and was part of the team which welcomed the first patients to the new Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital when it opened its doors at Colney on the outskirts of the city in 2000.
Jeanette worked at the new hospital as a Sister before moving to the private sector to work at the nearby BUPA (now Spire) hospital as a Recovery Team Leader. Promotion to Deputy Theatre Manger soon followed before Jeanette returned to the NHS as Clinical Team Lead at the Arthur South Day Procedure Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich, looking after six operating theatres.
However, a stroll along the beach with her husband one day in 2013 set her on a path to the Norfolk’s east coast.
“We were walking the dog along the beach at Scratby and we saw a house for sale and both thought: ‘wouldn’t it be great to live there.’ So, we bought the house – and then I decided it would be good to work locally, so started looking for jobs at the James Paget.”
Jeanette’s job hunting bore fruit when she was appointed the James Paget’s Surgical Outpatients Manager, looking after specialties including Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), oral surgery and the hospital’s Broadland Suite.
From there, she moved from overseeing care for surgical patients to become a Matron in the James Paget’s Division of Medicine – a role she has enjoyed for the last eight years.
“I have really enjoyed my career - it’s all about getting it right for the patient. I am a huge advocate for customer service. Our patients are our customers and if we are not doing something right, we need to give them every opportunity to say something – and look back to see how we could make the patient experience better,” said Jeanette.
“I have also really enjoyed working at the Paget. You really get the chance to get involved and there are so many opportunities,” she added. “It’s also a friendly place to work, with a real ‘family’ feel – you get to know so many people.”
To mark her last day as a Matron, colleagues presented her with gifts including a patchwork cushion detailing all her job titles at all the healthcare organisations she has worked for during her career.
But it’s not quite the end of Jeanette’s story – she is returning to the Paget to bring her nursing expertise to a role with the team overseeing the introduction of the Electronic Patient Record for Norfolk’s hospitals. 