Ian Yates saw a message on a notice board in the maternity unit advertising hospital vacancies. He applied and got the job…

Thirty-five years - and several promotions later - Ian is still working for Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS FT and says he’s happy and wouldn’t want to do anything else.

So much so that Ian, who’s 55 and lives in Ashton, will officially retire next month, but will return soon after under what’s known as the NHS retiree returner scheme.

Married to Tracey and the father of two grown-up children and three grandchildren, Ian says it was by pure chance that he saw the job advert that was to change his life.

“We were in the labour ward having our first child. In those days it was paper messages on wooden notice boards and I happened to see there was a job going at the hospital. It was to work on the domestic side of the service,” he said. 

“I was offered it and took it. After a short time I was transferred to theatre support work. 

“I’m now the Senior Theatres Support Worker at Hartshead theatres. 

“I prepare the rooms, help position patients and assist the nurses and I do a lot of work with the Trust’s fire officers to keep the department fire safe.”

When he’s not at work Ian watches Manchester City, listens to music, loves to walk in the countryside around his home and is very much involved with his three grandchildren.

He says of his role: “It’s a job I love as I know I’m valued by colleagues and my matron Andy Dolan, and I’m helping patients.”

Trust Chief Executive Karen James says people like Ian help to keep the hospital running smoothly and efficiently. 

“His dedication and commitment are an asset to his department and to the wider workforce and to think if he hadn’t read that notice all those years ago we might never have known him,” she added.