By Julie Waters
BANGOR nurse Liz Magee has certainly earned her retirement after devoting five decades to caring for others in the South Eastern Health Trust.
Liz’s nursing journey began in 1976 as a ward orderly in Montgomery House before progressing her career to the intensive care unit (ICU) where she worked for over 30 years.
Her dedication and expertise led her to head the outreach team, where she played a pivotal role in easing the transition for patients moving from ICU to the ward.
After her retirement from the Ulster Hospital, Liz ventured into nurse banking, where her extensive experience and compassionate care were invaluable, particularly during the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
More recently, Liz worked as a bank nurse in the Bangor Health Centre treatment room continuing to provide exemplary care to her patients.
During her time as a bank nurse, Liz worked alongside her sister Eleanor Brown and they have shared a special bond through their professional paths ever since.
Looking forward to her retirement, Liz said: “Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a nurse. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my nursing journey over the years.
“After I retired from the Ulster Hospital, my sister Eleanor asked me to come and do some shifts in the treatment room. After some persuasion, I gave in and learned some new skills.
“When Eleanor was a student many years ago, I was a sister in ICU and she spent a period of her training there. Now the tables have turned and she is the sister here in the treatment room and is now the boss.”
Reflecting on their nursing journey, Eleanor said: “My sister Liz has been an inspiration. She inspired me to go into nursing which I started as a mature student in 2003. As part of my training, my placement was in ICU.
“I found it very interesting to see how Liz worked and the respect all her colleagues had for her. Her commitment to Nursing and patient care is truly exceptional, she certainly deserves her retirement.”
