Radiographer Roz bids farewell to UHDB after 50 years of NHS service
A UHDB radiographer will be leaving a ‘Roz shaped hole’ in the hearts of her colleagues when she leaves this month after 50 years of service.
Rosemary Plant, who is affectionately known by her colleagues as ‘Roz’ is retiring on 11 November after working in the NHS for 50 years.
Despite best being known as a Senior Radiographer at Royal Derby Hospital, that wasn’t always the plan for Roz, who originally set out to become a remedial gymnast, which is more commonly known as a physiotherapist.
Roz said: “I always saw myself doing something in a hospital. I originally wanted to be a remedial gymnast but back then there was only one training place in the country and I didn’t get in! I knew I wanted to stay in the health service and I’ve always been very maths and physics orientated so radiotherapy seemed a good fit for me.”
Roz trained at Manchester and qualified in November 1972 before starting her first job at the DRI on 1 December 1972. She was there for two years before moving to Nottingham as a radiographer and working alongside her husband.
She said: “My husband was a design Engineer in Medical Physics. He and I were working together but I didn’t think it was a good idea so I applied for a job at the DRI in 1986 and that is where I have stayed ever since.
“It’s a really evolving area to be in and it has changed a lot since I started out. The main thing that’s changed is it used to be a lot more physical and more hands-on. We didn’t have computers in those days, everything had to be done by hand and now you have to be imaging experts so that’s the biggest change.”
Despite retiring 10 years ago, Roz returned to work as a part time Senior Radiographer, but is leaving the role for good in November as she moves on to pastures new, in France!
So what will Roz miss most about her time at UHDB?
She said: “I’ve really enjoyed working in the department and I have seen both the department and the number of patients grow. In 1986 there was six or seven members of staff but now we must have over 60 colleagues in the department.
“It’s a very rewarding job because you are helping people that can be very poorly, very anxious or stressed. If you make their journey just that little bit easier then you have done a good job.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my job and I will until my very last day.”