Local nurse shares her incredible story to mark 72 years of the NHS | News

This week is the 72nd anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and to mark the occasion 72-year-old Catherine Keeton, a scrub nurse at the Trust, shares her incredible nursing story.

Born in 1948 in Zimbabwe, Catherine knew from the age of five that it was her life’s calling to help care for and treat unwell people.

After graduating in nursing and midwifery studies in 1970, Catherine began treating trauma wounds and diseases including polio, tuberculosis and malaria during the Rhodesian Bush War.

In 1972, Catherine moved to South Africa where she began working on the frontline of the HIV crisis.

After having two children and a brief hiatus from nursing, Catherine returned to her calling, and shortly after was caught up in the 1985 Amanzimtoti bombing.

Talking about the incident, Catherine said: “My children weren’t too badly injured but I suffered some hearing loss and later at the age of 50 I decided to emigrate to the UK.”

Here her 22-year love affair and career with the NHS started.

In her current role as a scrub nurse in the Theatres at the Trust, Catherine helps care for patients before, during, and after surgery.

Catherine, who has worked at the Trust for 12 years, said: “I really enjoy working at Royal Surrey as it is a friendly and diverse place of work.”

Louise Stead, Chief Executive at the Trust commented: “2020 has been the most challenging year in NHS history and now more than ever we understand how invaluable our amazing colleagues are.

“Catherine’s story is inspirational and her 50 year nursing career is something we can all really admire and applaud.

“I would like to take this time to say a huge thank you to all of my colleagues at the Trust and across the wider NHS for all of their dedication, care and compassion.

“Here is to another 72 years.”

Catherine finished by saying: “I love to learn, to communicate with patients and to observe human healing.

“I believe – and I hope this is true – that my greatest contribution has been my practice of compassion.

“The reason I still choose to work is because I don’t see it as a job, but as a life passion.”