Clinical Systems Manager, Heather McNeill has retired from the Intensive Care Unit in the Ulster after an incredible 42 years’ service.
Heather began her nurse training in Altnagelvin Area Hospital in 197. After getting married in 1980, Heather moved to Belfast and took up a position in Templemore Avenue as a qualified Staff Nurse. In 1981, Heather took up a position as staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Ulster Hospital, where she worked primarily night shifts for the next number of years.
By 2000, Heather was in charge of managing the computer system within ICU and she was responsible for staff training in this area. When the new Critical Care Building opened on the Ulster Hospital site in 2010 Heather was promoted to Clinical Information Manager and has been solely responsible for the management of this system for the past 13 years.
Deputy Ward Sister, Kate McMillan has expressed her thanks to Heather for her long length of service, “Heather has been a committed member of the ICU team for the last 42 years. She has worked so hard in developing our computer system for the last 13 years. We will miss her enthusiasm and dedication and we wish her all the best for the next chapter of her journey.”
Heather faced many challenging times throughout her career and worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in ICU. She has built an extremely supportive network with her ICU colleagues.
Heather has thoroughly enjoyed her career working for the Trust reflecting, “I have had so many happy times working as part of the ICU team, with a few bad times along the way. However what I enjoyed most was working as part of the ICU team and having such a strong sense of support for one another. Knowing that if you ever needed a helping hand, you had someone to turn too. I am looking forward to retirement and the chance to have a bit more time to myself and in particular, getting out in the garden!
“I am very thankful of the great friendships I have made over the years and even though I am retiring, I will be coming back to the Ulster Hospital to carry out a few shifts a week in the Day Procedure Unit.”
