Colleagues gathered at the Alona Hotel in Motherwell to pay a fond farewell to senior clinical research nurse Maureen Brown who retired in December after 22 years’ service with NHS Lanarkshire.
Maureen, who was based at University Hospital Monklands, started her nursing career in mental health nurse training in 1982 in Gartcosh where she was a staff nurse for a year.
She thereafter undertook general nurse training and worked as a staff nurse until she took a break to have her children in 1989. While her children were young, Maureen returned to work, working nightshift in care of the elderly services for several years.
It was in 1999 when Maureen decided to take a career change and joined NHS Lanarkshire as a school nurse, a post in which remained for 10 years. At the same time, Maureen also worked sessional shifts for NHS Lanarkshire’s stop smoking service.
Maureen thereafter joined the health improvement team and worked as a nurse specialist in the stop smoking service where she remained for eight years. While working there, a research opportunity came up in the research and development department looking at stopping smoking in pregnant women which required a background in smoking cessation. Maureen was successful in being appointed to the post and, after some time, extended her work in research at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Maureen had worked on the Siren study for the past year and was instrumental in helping to recruit 1200 staff in NHS Lanarkshire on to the study.
Maureen has a son and daughter, both of whom have children of their own. Maureen dotes on her grandchildren and adores being a hands-on ‘nonna’. Her daughter is expecting another child and Maureen is looking forwarding to welcoming another grandchild in February 2022.
Maureen has decided to take retirement to allow her to spend time with her son and his family who are living in Singapore.
Berni Welsh, lead clinical trials nurse, said: “I’ve been Maureen’s line manager for the past four years in clinical trials and worked with Maureen many years ago in care of the elderly.
“Making the move to work in research can be daunting – for many nurses it’s like landing on another planet where people speak a different language. Maureen took to her role in research with ease – with great gusto, enthusiasm and efficiency. She has been a core member of the team working on the Siren study and was a major contributor to its success.
“Staff will also miss the personal touch that Maureen always brought to the workplace – a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude – always laughing and making other people laugh, always there to help, support and bolster others when there was a need.
“We wish Maureen a very happy retirement and bon voyage on the trips that she has ahead of her.”
