06 Jul Essex therapist: “I joined the NHS 38 years ago as a bet with my grandparents”
When Beverley Kemp made a bet with her grandparents, she didn’t expect it to result in a 38 year career in the NHS.
Beverley is a senior occupational therapist at Rochford Hospital.
She said: “I left school at 16 years old. I started working in NHS as a bet with my grandparents that my sister and I couldn’t work together.
“I was 17 then and we are still both in the care sector – my sister in a learning disability school and me in the NHS.
Beverley joined the Trust in March this year, after working for more than 28 years at Southend University Hospital.
She said: “I was a nursing auxiliary when I started at Southend Hospital. I remember the uniform was a brown check dress with a white paper hat.
“Then the changes started and we were called health care assistants, then I became a rehabilitation assistant.
“Following that I did my training to become an occupational therapist. I spent two days at university and three days on the ward.
“Starting at the lower level of my care career enabled me to build my skills and assist other people to develop their careers and support patients to have a good quality of life in their own homes where possible.”
Beverley now splits her time between two of our services. She supports patients at the Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre, a rehabilitation unit for people who have had a stroke or fall and other medical conditions. And she supports people at home who are under the care of our virtual frailty wards, which we run with partner organisations as part of the Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative.
She said: “I’ve discovered a lot of my past students who graduated into occupational therapy are now working in EPUT.
“It’s nice to see how they have progressed and are doing well in their careers.
“Learning and sharing skills with your colleagues is good, as I was always taught that knowledge is limited unless you can share it and grow with it.”
Beverley has seen the NHS adapt over the years due to society’s changing needs and budget changes.
But she said putting patient safety and quality of life is important foremost.
“Working closely with colleagues from across different disciplines to see patients go home and witness their achievements is why we are in the NHS,” she said.
“At EPUT, it is good to be able to work along with patients to get them home to family and friends.
“I enjoy the one-to-one working with patients as you can see them progress more.
“At EPUT I have been able to take the time with patients, families and staff to give a good level of care.
“The things I enjoy most about my job are working with the patients and staff, and enabling patients to have a good chance and quality of life.
“I also value how all staff can contribute and are listened to so we can improve the service we provide for our patients.”
