A lifetime of achievements: My 51-year career in the NHS | Latest news

Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) and Legacy Mentor, Kevin Tate has dedicated 44 years to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) and is celebrating 51 years of NHS service as he retires at the end of July.

Starting out as a Porter at the age of 16, Kevin decided to continue his NHS career in Nottingham, becoming an ODP at the age of 23. Kevin has had various roles through his 51-year career. Having worked in surgical theatres since 1981, Kevin has led neuro theatres and the training and education team, focusing on dementia and other subjects. and has enjoyed passing on his knowledge to the new generations coming to work at NUH.

Kevin said “I think one of my biggest career highlights is seeing students and past students of mine come through and become brilliant practitioners and nice people”

In 2023, Kevin became the Trust's only Allied Health Profession trained legacy mentor, using innovative teaching strategies to engage and develop staff. His interactive and enjoyable teaching style has impacted many careers.

Kevin also met his wife who was a Nurse at NUH, and now their daughter Rachel Tate has joined the NUH family as an Orthopaedic Theatres Team Leader, she said “growing up in a household with two parents that worked in the NHS, I followed the route of my dad, the ODP route. It was nice to have his support personally and professionally, but also nice to establish our own paths as we work in different departments of theatres”.

“ODP’s weren’t very well recognised when I started in 2010, I think my dad’s been a massive part in that change of us being recognised, it’s nice to see people come through now who know what an ODP is.”

Rachel said: “I have been working at the trust since 2008 and I would like to think that, like my dad, I will have my 44 years here at NUH.”

In recognition of Kevin’s outstanding efforts to NUH, he was nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award at the People First Recognition Awards.

“I was amazed, I was astounded enough to be nominated in the first place, but to actually win the award I was lost for words, really”, Kevin said

Speaking about his decision to retire and what he is looking forward to, Kevin said, “Now is the right time, I’ve had a great career, I will miss working here, miss lots of people and the patients”.

"I have four grandchildren and I will be catching some fish, so I will be keeping busy."

When we asked Kevin what he would say to someone who may follow in his footsteps of a long lasting career at NUH, he said:

“Enjoy it! It’s a great place to work, there are so many supportive people around, the good times will outweigh the bad. You are very lucky to enjoy the next 40 years because I certainly have! The people make the organisation and we have some brilliant people”

Chief Executive for NUH, Anthony May visited QMC Theatres to congratulate Kevin on his amazing achievement and to personally thank him for his years of service.

"I am sincerely grateful to Kevin for his remarkable 44 years of dedicated service in our surgical theatres. It is rare to find such longevity and excellence in one career, and we are delighted to have had Kevin as part of our team.

“Kevin has made an outstanding contribution, and he will be missed. On behalf of everyone at the Trust, I want to thank Kevin for all that he has done and wish him the very best for a long and happy retirement.”