Maria Battle, Chair of Cardiff and Vale university Health board presenting Liz Hooper with a bouquet of flowers
Liz Hooper from Thornhill, Cardiff is celebrating her fiftieth year working for the NHS without losing a day’s sickness during that time.
Liz, who currently works as a Senior Dental Nurse Tutor at the University Dental Hospital in Cardiff started her NHS career as a Saturday girl in a local dentist in Treharris. She saw an advert in the South Wales Echo for dental trainees in Cardiff, where she had to apply to the Matron in writing to gain entry to the course. Her application was accepted and she began her Dental Nurse training in 1967.
Liz then worked as a Dental Nurse for a year before taking up the role of Senior Dental Nurse Tutor in August 1970 up until the present time.
Liz also stepped into the position of Dental Nursing Manager for a period of three months during 1996-1997.
Liz said: “I have built relationships with patients who I have treated over the years, as I would see them regularly for treatment. I still see people today who I treated years ago. I always try to address them by their names so that they know I remember who they are, it’s important to me.”
Beverly Withers, Interim Dental Nurse Manager at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) and who was trained by Liz said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside Liz.
“She is the go-to person to find out anything which is dental related, we often refer to her as ‘The Oracle’.
“Liz is well known and respected in the Dental world, devoting much of her working life to Dental Nursing and Dental Nurse Training where she ran the South Wales evening course, training thousands of Dental Nurses during 40 years.
Hayley Dixon, Director of Operations for the Dental Clinical Board at Cardiff and Vale UHB said: “I’d like to say a big “thank you” to Liz for her commitment and dedication to Dental Nursing.
“It is a fantastic achievement to have competed nearly 50 years service, and to have never taken a day’s sick during this time is truly amazing.
Maria Battle, Chair of Cardiff and Vale UHB presented Liz with flowers and gifts to say “thank you” during a special afternoon tea with her colleagues who she trained.
Maria said, “On behalf of everyone at Cardiff and Vale UHB I’d like to thank Liz for her long service and exemplary sickness record
“It was great to be able to spend time with Liz and her colleagues who she trained and hear all about how dental nursing has changed throughout the years.”
