I qualified as a State Registered Nurse (SRN) at UCH School of Nursing in 1971. After a short period, staffing on the very fledgling I.C.U. I decided to move to work in the local community. Initially, I became a School Nurse then after undertaking further training, qualified as Health Visitor in 1973, my first post being locally in Kentish Town. My connections with UCH continued however with participation in the ‘mothercraft’ classes held in a classroom in Chenies Mews.

Some years later after a career break to raise a family I returned to Health. Visiting in a more rural area in Buckinghamshire covering quite a diverse population. In those days the role included all ages ‘the cradle to the grave!’ Eventually, I changed posts again to join a large medical practice in Rickmansworth benefiting from being part of the Primary Health Care Team.

I retired in 2008 and became more involved with the UCH Nurses’ League serving on 2 Executive Committees, and the planning of the League Centenary culminating in the memorable celebrations on April 9, 2009. Following that the League became a Charity and I served as one of the early Trustees.

I have enjoyed getting to know many other members over the years both on those committees and at various social events. During the pandemic, I’ve had some very interesting and poignant telephone conversations with some of our more senior members about their nursing days at UCH.

Theresa Wiseman is a clinical nurse academic with a joint appointment between The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Southampton. She holds a chair in Applied Health Research in Cancer Care, is passionate about research but more so that it makes a difference to patients and families. She began nursing at UCH in January 1977 and joined Set 222, qualifying in January 1980. She had various staff nurse posts including working in Germany, completed her ITU training at The London Hospital and returned to UCH as a Sister in 5:1 from 1983-1985 when she became a clinical teacher. After completing a BSc and Post Grad Dip in Education she worked at Bloomsbury College of Nursing and Midwifery from 1992-1997 when it closed. Following this, Theresa worked as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer at The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London (KCL). Here she completed her PhD and obtained her first joint appointment with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust and KCL, before taking up her post as Strategic Lead of Applied Health Research at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (RMNHSFT). In 2015 she was awarded a chair in Applied Health Research in Cancer Care (joint appointment) by the University of Southampton and RMNHSFT. She has always maintained a clinical component of her role and has had joint clinical academic posts since 2008.  Her research focusses on patient and carer experience of cancer and treatment and developing services and interventions to ameliorate that experience.

Amanda Harrington completed her nurse training at UCH in 1984 (set 252). She worked on 4/4 (female medicine) and the Accident & Emergency ward. She then moved to the Westminster Hospital where she worked as a ward sister on a cardiology and haematology ward and then as a senior night sister. In 1992 she moved to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as a site manager/nurse practitioner.

She moved over to the governance side working in clinical audit and setting up a complaints department, and later the PALS team. As Patient Liaison Manager she managed the complaints and PALS teams, patient and public involvement, bereavement and mortuary services.

In 2008 she completed her Masters in Medical Law and moved to work at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. During her time here she has overseen some of the complex and high-profile health investigations. Amanda has recently taken semi-retirement and is working part-time. She has two children and one amazing grandson!