Tributes to Aveen and Janice for years of dedicated service to Trust

Tributes to Aveen and Janice for years of dedicated service to Trust

3 July 2024

TWO senior South Eastern Trust officials have retired.

Assistant directors Aveen McCraith from Seaforde and Janice Colligan from Hillsborough said farewell to colleagues at a recent function to mark their 40 years of dedicated service.

Both women were joined by family, friends and colleagues who had gathered to celebrate the contribution and wealth of knowledge each had made and brought to their chosen medical professions over four decades.

Aveen described how she had worked in the Royal Victoria Hospital’s ICU “through some of the most horrific times of the Troubles.”

In 2013, she moved to a new role as principal physiotherapist for governance, learning and development and community physiotherapy outpatients, pelvic health and the prison healthcare team.

She said this resulted in a number of service developments including the successful introduction of self-referral to outpatient physiotherapy services.

“Since moving to the South Eastern Trust I have learned so much and been permitted to develop quality improvement and strategic drive and vision,” said Aveen.

 “The delivery of multi-disciplinary teams in primary care and encompass are just small examples of the positive risk taking and drive to improve that I have been privileged to work with.”

Aveen added: “It has been a huge honour and a great privilege to have to have worked in health care in Northern Ireland and I have been very fortunate to have worked with many wonderful individuals, service users, excellent clinicians, managers and staff.”

Janice’s family and colleagues heard how her nursing career also began in the Royal Victoria n July 1981, during the height of the troubles.

She said it was during this time that she learnt the importance of her close friendships, people and the patients.

Janice later undertook a Diploma in Health Visiting and worked both in Belfast and in the Down and Lisburn Trust as a health visitor and later took up a post in care management.

She continued: “For the last 24 years I have held a number of different senior management positions culminating in the role of assistant director for primary and integrated care.”

Janice described her career as an “incredible journey” filled with “many challenges and successes but I have loved every moment.”

She continued: “I am honoured to be part of such a wonderful organisation and have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and made lifelong friendships. 

“Together, we have accomplished so much and I am so proud of my teams and the impact they have made to peoples’ lives.”

As she moves into retirement, Janice is looking forward to having more time with her family “who have been there every step of the way” and her friends. 

“I am excited for the new adventures which lie ahead,” she said.

Those who gathered for the recent retirement presentation heard how Aveen began her career as a junior physiotherapist at the Royal Victoria in August 1988 before joining the South Eastern Trust as a senior physio in the Downe Hospital in April, 2007. 

Janice added: “My whole life has been learning, growing up I loved anatomy, I loved cars and decided to become a people mechanic.”

The health trust’s Director of Primary Care and Older People, Clare-Marie Dickson, who had written a personalised keep sake poem for Aveen and Janice, said it was her privilege over the past few years to work alongside Janice and Aveen within Primary Care and Older People. 

She added: “They epitomise everything that is good about our health service. 

“They are both extremely compassionate, respected professionals, passionate about providing the highest possible quality of care for patients. I will miss them so much.”