From mailroom to hospital gym – a NHS physio’s 50 year career

After 50 years and a considerable career change, a Stockton woman is reflecting on her time working at a local NHS trust – from shy mailroom clerk to dedicated physio supporting hundreds of hospital patients to recovery.

67-year-old Denise Mulligan began her NHS career on 24 March 1975, aged 17, in the mailroom at the University Hospital of North Tees – or North Tees General Hospital as it was known then.

When her former job working in stables came to an end, Denise’s uncle – who worked as a porter at the hospital – suggested she apply for a job in the mailroom.

Denise said: “Getting that job was just the best thing. I was quite shy, I used to get embarrassed if anyone spoke to me so it pushed me into meeting people and socialising with people. I went to every department, every office, every ward – I got to spend my days talking to people and I absolutely loved it.

“It was a job you were supposed to start in and then move on but I loved it that much that I just stayed. I worked in that mailroom for nearly 16 years and loved every minute of it.”

The move to physiotherapy

During her time in the mailroom, she also met her best friend – someone she would come to enjoy a lifelong friendship with until her passing last year. When the pair got a job share in the acute psychiatry unit together in 1990, Denise began her tenure in therapy as an occupational therapy assistant.

When her role was combined with a physiotherapy role, Denise became rotational, enjoying the variety of working in different areas.

She said: “I think I rotated in about every area. I worked in neuro, orthopaedics, medicine, surgery, paediatrics. I did quite a few rotations on elderly care and absolutely loved it – you talk to the elderly patients and they tell you all about their life. They could be an ex-footballer or jockey, they’ve lived such a life and it’s really wonderful.

“I’ve worked everywhere at North Tees and enjoyed some areas more than others, of course, but I’ve never worked anywhere that I didn’t like.

“One of my rotations was as an outpatient physio in 2007 and a job came up. I got it and I’ve been here ever since.”

Denise’s role as a specialised therapy assistant sees her supporting North Tees and Hartlepool outpatients to restore movement and function after an injury or illness.

Looking back 50 years on

Now flexi-retired, Denise still works two days a week in the hospital’s Tatchell Centre – alongside her role as Nana, looking after her nine-year-old granddaughter.

Denise continued: “I’m 68 this year and I think while I still enjoy work, I’ll always do it. The thing I love most is just that interaction with people, with patients. I’ve met so many people in my years and I think they’ve all had a bit of an influence on my life and I hope I have on some of theirs as well.

“Thinking back to when I was 17, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. It wasn’t that I necessarily wanted to work in a mailroom or a hospital. For me, it was an opportunity that led to other things and I’ll always be so grateful for that.

“The NHS is just so varied. You can get into different areas, find out what you’re interested in, where you feel you fit, and that’s amazing. Taking that job in the mailroom 50 years ago just formed everything for me.”