Claire-Marie says farewell after 34 years in health care

Claire-Marie says farewell after 34 years in health care

25 June 2025

THE South Eastern Trust’s Director of Primary Care and Older People has retired after 34 years’ service in health care.

Clare-Marie Dickson – who is from Newcastle – was recently joined by her colleagues at a retirement function to mark her exceptional career. 

Colleagues joined Claire-Marie and her family to celebrate her achievements and to wish her well on her retirement, recognising her outstanding dedication, compassion and leadership over more than three decades.

Clare-Marie began her career in January 1988 as a student nurse with the Eastern Health Board before going on to work as a staff nurse in the former Down and Lisburn Trust before embarking on a varied and impactful career across several key roles in health and social care. 

In November 2000, she was seconded to Queen’s University to support the Shortened Children’s Programme, before returning to the Downe Hospital in June 2002 to work in the day procedure unit.

She later joined the Children’s Community Team in Hillsborough Community Services.

Clare-Marie’s passion for education and service development saw her move into roles such as Practice Education Facilitator in Children’s Nursing and later as Sure Start Co-ordinator and Early Intervention Implementation Manager in the Downpatrick area.

And she was a former Practice Education Co-ordinator based at Mount Alexander in Comber. 

In September 2018, Clare-Marie took on the role of Nursing Modernisation Manager at the Ulster Hospital, before being appointed Assistant Director of Safe and Effective Care in March 2020. 

She then progressed to Assistant Director of Primary Care in June 2021 and in April 2023, Claire Marie was appointed to her final post as Director of Primary Care and Older People.

Reflecting on her career, the Newcastle woman said she is “absolutely delighted” to have had the privileged career she had since joining the South Eastern Trust. 

“I have been in so many teams and worked with so many fantastic people, but it is the South Eastern Trust sense of family and the value base of the people that I have met that has kept me here for my whole career,” she said.

“I have always felt nurtured and given great opportunities to get the best out of me. As a local resident, I have always tried to improve services for patients, clients, relatives, families and friends. To work for a Trust that has allowed me to do that has been such a privilege.”

Trust chief executive, Roisin Coulter, said the organisation is “delighted to celebrate the fantastic career” that Clare-Marie had with the organisation.

“We held a wonderful event with Claire-Marie and her family to say thank you for everything she has done,” she said.

“Her passion, dedication and her commitment to patients and community services have been truly outstanding.”

Ms Coulter added: “Clare-Marie has left an incredible legacy in services for older people and her dedication to multi-disciplinary teams in primary care is outstanding. 

“She has also influenced improvements at a regional level across Northern Ireland. It has been a personal privilege to work alongside her and I will miss her very much.”