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Matron recommends nursing as a career
Written by Communications Team   

When Delores Thomas began her training she knew that nursing would give her more than the average experience of the theatre of life – but she little dreamt that she would become Matron in Theatres and Day Surgery at St Peter’s Hospital - and that her devotion to duty would lead to tea at Buckingham Palace!
 
The Garden Party was a happy experience three summers ago but when Delores retires this month (March) her outstanding memory will be the high calibre of staff she has worked with over the years, and the fact that the nursing profession is still an excellent career for young men and women to follow.


 


Matron with responsibility for main operating theatres and day surgery at St. Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, Delores Thomas retires this month (March) after a 42–year career in the NHS. She is pictured here with operating theatre and nursing colleagues at St. Peter’s Hospital. (Left to right):  Orthopaedic and trauma operating theatre team sister Leynie Lugtu, theatres sister Angie Pang, acting associate director of nursing Sue Brown, Delores Thomas, PA to the theatres management team Sarah Howard, theatres clerk Lisa Rutland-Mantle and day surgery unit sister Claire Ellson-Credo.

 
Said Delores: “Nursing as a career for young people is an opportunity to pursue a profession that is continually developing, giving them the vocation in life to provide a service of care in today’s multicultural society. We are extremely fortunate in our Trust to have staff with a wealth of nursing experience from both a UK background and abroad. Ten years ago we welcomed the first Filipino nurses who came to work in an UK acute hospital and these members of staff are now seen as role models by their peers and are very highly respected by their colleagues.”
 
Delores herself was described as “An outstanding professional role model and champion of patients – a highly respected figure” when nominated by the Trust to attend the royal tea party.
 
Her career began when she began training in 1968 as an Enrolled Nurse at Neasden Hospital, qualifying in 1970. From early 1979 she began to specialise in operating theatre work while at Ealing Hospital, and from there she moved to Harefield Hospital specialising in cardiothoracic intensive care. All the time that she had a “day job” she continued with her studies completing registered nurse training and intensive care courses at Buckingham College and Harefield Hospital.
 
 
She became a Registered General Nurse in 1991 after successfully completing a nursing conversion course at Buckinghamshire College, a College of Brunel University. Delores went on to gain a BSc Honours degree also from Brunel University together with a Higher Award for Nursing. She joined Ashford Hospital’s theatre staff from Harefield Hospital in l997 as a Recovery sister and later as Clinical manager. She retires as Matron for Theatres and Day Surgery at St. Peter’s Hospital.
 
Originally from Jamaica, Delores and Ken have four children and seven grandchildren who are keen to see her retire and take a well earned rest.
 
Said Delores: “Although I welcome the prospect of a relaxed, full and restful life I know I will miss all my many friends and colleagues who have supported me in this demanding role. Working at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust has been a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Perhaps my biggest challenge was moving from my comfort zone at Ashford Hospital to St Peter’s Hospital, as Matron in a busier and more complex environment.”