Maggie retiring after 40 years


MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust will be wish- ing a fond farewell to nurse Maggie Barnden when she re- tires on Friday, June 8, after more than 40 years with the NHS.


Maggie began her nursing ca-


reer in 1968, at The Tunbridge Wells School of Nursing. At the time, Maggie lived rent-free in nursing accommo- dation, but her first monthly pay packet was just £10! Maggie said: “Nursing in the


60s was very different to nurs- ing now. Itwas regimented and everyone was very clear on their own role and what was, or was- n’t, expected of them. The sis- ters were pretty fierce. As student nurses, we had a lot of respect for our seniors.” Maggie was on duty as a stu-


dent nurse on the day the first intensive care ward opened at the Kent and Sussex Hospital and fondly remembers what a special occasion it was. Her first staff post was in


1971 on the men’s orthopaedic ward, at the Pembury Hospital. Maggie was very happy in her post. She said there was a good atmosphere on the ward and generally, spirits were high. In the late 70s,Maggie took up


her first sister post in Casualty (now A&E). During the 80s, she transferred to the newly-built


Endoscopy after the birth of her youngest daughter in 1988. Maggie said: “My experience in A&E was invaluable - if you can handle that, you can handle anything. I was accustomed to the responsibility and level of accountability required but I had to play down my ignorance of endoscopy!” With a new grandchild due in August, Maggie is sure she will be kept busy during her retire- ment, and plans to spend time with friends, finish many jobs she has started at home, and possibly next year, spend some time touring America. She said: “I have been fortu-


nate enough to thoroughly enjoy my career and have worked not only with amazing colleagues, but also wonderful friends.


“Nursing has changed con-


A&E department at the Kent and Sussex Hospital. She re- members that both hospitals had very different atmospheres, with Pembury having a relaxed feel to it, whilst the K&S Hospi- tal was much more rigid. Mag- gie thoroughly enjoyed her time at both hospitals and has fond memories of them. Acute ad- missions was Maggie’s next move, followed by a rolewithin


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siderably since the 60s, but thankfully the humour has re- mained unchanged. “I will miss nursing dread-


fully, but I amexcited about the next chapter of my life and hope that those who are just joining the profession get as much out of it as I have. “My advice to new students would be to stay focused on your goals and ambitions and don’t forget the essential quality of kindness, not only to patients but also to your colleagues.”


Surgeon claims


discrimination SURGEON Geoffrey Trotter, who performed thousands of operations at Maidstone Hos- pital, is to take the hospital’s managers to a tribunal claim- ing he has been the victim of age discrimination. Maidstone and Tunbridge


Wells NHS Trust would not confirm Mr Trotter’s age. The tribunal had been scheduled to take place last month, but it has now been postponed to July. Mr Trotter, from Orpington, who quali- fied in 1975, was a bowel sur- gery specialist at the hospital in Hermitage Lane. He claimed discrimination on the grounds of age leading to un- fair dismissal. He currently works as a general and specialist col- orectal surgeon at BMI Somerfield Hospital in the town, but still lists his NHS position as being at Maid- stone Hospital. Last year he received a warning from the General Medical Council after a com- plaint about patient care. It was revealed that this was one of five complaints made against him and his team be- tween 2008 and 2011. Mr Trotter received a Pride


of Maidstone award in 2002 for outstanding care.


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