Two women who have each worked for 40 years with some of Medway’s most vulnerable children have been thanked.

Kim Young and Jenny Stuart started working at Medway Hospital in 1977 when it was under Medway Health Authority.

Mrs Young, 58, started as a trainee nurse before becoming a school nurse. She is now a team leader for the children’s community planning disability team.

She said: “I went to college when I left school. I always really wanted to work with children with disabilities. I used nursing as a route to get into that.

“You never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. We really get to know our children and families well. You develop such good working, professional relationships with families.”

Over her career she said she has seen more children able to go to school for longer which improved their quality of life.

She said: “We really try to get children into school however complex their needs. It supports the parents and families. Having a child with a disability is a lifelong job and it’s a hard job to do.”

Ms Stuart, also 58, the safeguarding children co-ordinator, began her career in school health. She said: “My first post was starting up a new system for school and community health arranging school medicals.

“I stayed with it because I enjoyed it and 25 years on I still really enjoy working within safeguarding mostly because it’s unpredictable. You come in every morning and you don’t know what the day’s going to bring. We really feel that we’re making a difference.”

Mrs Young said: “I’ve had a really good career in Medway. We’ve really made a positive difference to children and families.” The pair were thanked for their service at the hospital awards night.

James Devine, executive director of HR, said: “We are so proud of all our staff and volunteers at Medway who serve the local community, providing the best care, with such compassion each and every day.

"We are particularly proud of the outstanding dedication, hard work and commitment of our staff who have served the Trust for an incredible 40 years.

"Their contribution to the Trust, the local community and the wider NHS is truly invaluable and we feel immensely honoured to be able to recognise and celebrate their achievements together.”?