After briefly contemplating teaching as a career, Pauline followed in her mother’s footsteps in nursing and at 18 years old she began her training at the RVI where she stayed in the nurses’ home – it was strict but lots of fun!
As a newly qualified nurse Pauline joined the freshly opened Freeman Hospital followed by a period of time at Darlington Memorial. She worked in medicine – an area she really enjoyed.
Pauline says this was because she feels many chronic, life-long diseases such as diabetes can be caused or exacerbated in some way or indeed improved by socioeconomic situations.
“I found those areas the most interesting and how the patients’ conditions were treated or managed at that time” explains Pauline. “Of course things have moved on greatly since then.”
Witnessing pioneering advances
Pauline recalls working with one of Newcastle’s most pioneering clinicians in diabetes Professor Sir George Alberti who pioneered artificial pancreatic technology to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes, in particular during surgery and childbirth.
Through funding from national charity Diabetes UK, Professor Alberti and his team tested the first insulin pump in Newcastle. It was his research that showed it could help people living with type 1 diabetes to improve their blood sugar levels leading to the first pumps becoming available in 1985 which thousands of people use today.
“I remember clearly having to push a large piece of equipment around on the ward which treated patients with hard to control blood glucose levels,” explains Pauline. “This was the ancestor of the much smaller devices used today.”
Professor Alberti’s work led to the development of hybrid closed-loops which automatically pump insulin into the body when needed in response to continuous glucose monitor readings. Pauline said this was a really exciting time to be a ward nurse and it’s been fascinating to see how things have developed throughout her career.
A health visitor at heart
However, Pauline harked back to a time during her student days when she had heard a talk given by a health visitor. “I have always been interested in how society affects health so when listening to the health visitor sharing her experience and passion for her job, I found myself inspired by this socially orientated public health role.”
Yet pursing health visiting wasn’t as straightforward as it is today. Pauline had to qualify as a midwife as this was a prerequisite to apply for the course.
“You had to have a midwifery qualification or some obstetric experience prior to applying to university,” explains Pauline. “You also had to get sponsorship from a local authority. There were a lot of interview panels to get through, before you could be accepted but it was worth it.”
It was in 1987 when Pauline qualified as a Health Visitor, initially working in Gateshead before joining Newcastle’s community services in April 2000. “For a time I was the Health Team Coordinator for Sure Start centres in Cowgate and Blakelaw when the Early Years initiative was first introduced.”
An absolute privilege
She says she feels privileged to have had so many opportunities throughout her career, helping her to expand her education and knowledge during her years as a health visitor.
“I’ve very much enjoyed working alongside my dedicated and professional colleagues who have been such an inspiration as well as in partnership with other agencies to deliver a holistic services to families – being able to better understand people’s situations and to help empower them.”
Perhaps most of all Pauline says it has been the utmost privilege to accompany families during their darkest hours and their brightest days.
Pauline has been particularly interested in maternal and infant mental and says she has been impressed by the continuous developments within Neurosciences related to early brain development.
“From the beginning of my career there was well documented research showing that the environment of a child’s earliest years can have effects that last a lifeline. Now at the end of my career it’s been fascinating to clearly see evidence of this in recorded brain scans.”
Health visiting as a career
When asked what she would say to anyone contemplating health visiting as a career Pauline says it is rewarding and inspiring although inevitably there are difficult days. “You’ll need to complete the specialist public health nursing health visiting course,” explains Pauline.
“Health visiting is about taking a holistic approach so Health Visitors think about the child in the wider context of the whole family. By supporting the physical and mental health needs of all family members the Health Visitor can best support the health and development of the child.”
Marie Huscroft, Head of nursing for children’s services said “I would like to thank Pauline for all her years of dedication to health visiting alongside her unwavering support to all the babies, children and families she has tended to over the years.
“Pauline will be greatly missed by the health visiting and school nursing teams for her kindness and knowledge. I wish her all the best – enjoy every minute Pauline of your retirement!”
In closing Pauline says “I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the NHS and the Trust for the opportunities and experience I have been fortunate to receive.”
