A nurse who has dedicated half-a-century to transforming mental health care across the North East is set to retire this week with “so many wonderful memories”.
Christine Turner started her NHS career as a domestic assistant at 16, later training as a mental health nurse and helping to pioneer significant changes in care delivery.
Over the last 50 years the mum-of-two – an advanced practitioner with our Trust – has been involved in the development of many innovative and front-line projects.
“It has been a privilege to have a lifelong career in the NHS. There have been so many highlights, so many great memories,” she said.
Following in family footsteps
North Ormesby-born Christine, who was a “bit of a rebel” as a teenager, left school in 1975 with “just a couple of O Levels” and no clear plans for her future.
Her mum Barbara, then a domestic assistant at North Tees Hospital, helped her land a job on the same team – and Christine has worked for the NHS ever since.
“My mum ended up being the longest serving domestic assistant at the hospital by the time she retired, and I’m delighted I’ve made it to my 50-year mark,” said Christine.
“That first job really opened my eyes to the world of the NHS. I worked on a ward for the elderly with mental ill health and loved it. My charge nurse said I was a natural.”
Christine was so inspired by her work that she applied for a place on a new nurse training course in psychiatry, which was being piloted by North Tees Hospital.
She was part of the first cohort of student nurses and spent two years training at North Tees psychiatric unit and on placement at St Luke’s Hospital in Middlesbrough.
“The NHS was trying to modernise mental health services, and we were encouraged to promote change,” said Christine.
“We were determined to improve things. We wanted to try and break the mould and make positive changes for all.”
First steps on career ladder
Christine qualified as a state enrolled mental health nurse at 20 – winning the Director of Nurse Education Award for her year.
She then stayed on at North Tees for several years, rotating through mental health wards and departments – gaining a broad range of skills and experience.
“I worked with some fantastic people and personalities. Everyone knew and supported each other, and it was like a family,” she said.
“However, it was very different. Records were hand-written and treatments less advanced. Medication and care systems have really progressed since then.”
Ten years later, with the role of state enrolled mental health nurse being phased out, Christine completed a conversion course to become a registered nurse.
“This opened up many more opportunities,” she said.
“One highlight was working as clinical lead at the Stephenson Centre at North Tees psychiatric unit. I particularly enjoyed being a mentor for the student nurses.”
Supporting service changes
As mental health services evolved, Christine opted for a fresh challenge – working as a community psychiatric nurse across Stockton.
She later took part in a Trust pilot project called The Gateway Service, offering people direct access to mental health care in GP surgeries.
“It was a completely new idea at the time and had never been done before. It proved very successful, and the GPs loved it,” she said.
Christine went on to complete an independent and supplementary prescribing course at university, which led to her becoming a frontline community specialist practitioner.
Her new role involved undertaking outpatient review clinics at Clifton House, working closely with medical colleagues and offering clinical supervision to the wider team.
She then moved to the Payment by Results team – supporting its development and carrying out clinical teaching to staff trust-wide.
The job also included supporting staff with the roll out of Paris – a former Trust computer system – in North Yorkshire.
“I’ve always been interested in project work. To participate in change. I love the feeling of coming up with a plan, delivering it – and then moving on,” she said.
Working on frontline projects
After three years on the road, Christine went back to her community roots – helping to support the development of teams for ADHD, autism and perinatal in Stockton.
She also served as a specialist adviser for the Care Quality Commission, undertaking inspections nationally outside of the Trust.
More recently her role has included a wide range of duties – including supporting recruitment, the production of patient safety reports and governance data.
But, although Christine is retiring this week, her NHS legacy will continue through her niece Rebecca, who has just graduated as a nurse.
“I have been encouraged and supported by amazing people who influenced my NHS journey, and I’ve also gained lifelong friends,” she said.
“I would like to think that I have made a positive impact on those lives I’ve touched and that I can be remembered with a smile.”
