• Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s Emergency Planner and former A&E nurse to retire
• Jimmy Tunn joined the NHS as a student nurse in 1989
• Jimmy was heavily involved in the Trust’s response to COVID-19 and Swine Flu

One of the people at the centre of making sure Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is prepared for emergencies and able to continue to deliver life-saving care is due to retire after 35 years of service in the NHS.

Jimmy Tunn joined the National Health Service as a student nurse in October 1989, before qualifying in 1992 with a desire to work in Accident and Emergency.

He went on to spend 16 years on the frontline to provide life-saving care to people in Salford and Bolton.

During my training I knew I absolutely wanted to work in A&E, it was like a light bulb coming on. I work in Salford until 1998, and then spent a decade in Bolton’s A&E.

“Working in A&E is a complete life affirming experience, it’s a very, very unique place to work in healthcare.”

Jimmy saw first-hand the changes in emergency and urgent care and the growing demand services have faced.

“I remember two occasions when there was zero patients in the department, and they were both on nights and it was around about 3 o’clock in the morning and there was nobody in the waiting room, the place was completely empty. It was unique, but I am sure that does not happen now. It has become gradually busier and busier.

Reflecting on the time he spent in one of the busiest parts of the hospital, Jimmy credits those he worked alongside for helping him through, particularly during challenging shifts.

If it wasn’t for the team of nursing and medical staff you wouldn’t get through it. The people I met through that time I’m still friends with now, they will always be lifelong friends. Those relationships are very important as A&E is challenging physically and it’s challenging emotionally.

“I’ve been there when people come in the world, but I’ve also been there when people go. Even if you’re sitting holding somebody’s hand, you want them know somebody’s there with them.

“Working in healthcare is an absolute privilege. People will undress it front of you and you’ve never met them before. They will let you stick needles into them. It is a privilege, but you have to treat it with absolute respect and work with the best interests of the patients.

In 2008, Jimmy made a decision to step away from like in the Emergency Department to become Bolton’s Emergency Planning Manager, a crucial role that helps the organisation to prepare for a crisis and ensure it’s able to still deliver life-saving care for people in and around Bolton.

When I started it was a baptism of fire, as not long after there was a Swine Flu outbreak. The first thing I wanted to do was review all the documents that were out there and I realized that there weren’t many documents and plans. These days there’s an action card or procedure to follow, so we’re in a much better position now.

“We’ve had to manage things like Brexit and the arena attack. Seeing people respond to that was remarkable as everyone really pulled together to help. I will always remember the debriefs after and everyone used the word proud.

Jimmy was also heavily involved in the Trust’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and despite trying to take steps to reduce the impact of the first wave, was taken aback at how quickly so many people became critically ill.

I remember walking around in the first wave in Critical Care, who were told to escalate their capacity to prepare for what was coming. And I was wandering the place was empty and I thought, there’s no way we’re going to need all this space, no way. And then you go back a couple of months later in the peak of the wave and it’s completely full.

“It had a huge impact on our staff and it was a massive challenge, but every single person in this organisation made sure we were able to respond as best we could with what we had.

As Jimmy prepares to say goodbye to the NHS at the end of this month, he touched on what kept him working in the NHS for 35 years.

It’s the people and the culture in the Trust, from senior execs all the way down. It’s so supportive and teams work really well together. I enjoy that because we need that support to be able to deliver what you have to do.

“When it comes to the NHS, the job you end up doing is never the one you come in doing. It gives you loads of opportunities and I will always be grateful for the doors that opened for me and the people I have been fortunate to meet and work with along the way.

If you’re inspired by Jimmy’s story and would like to see what opportunities are available in the NHS in Bolton, please visit the job pages of our website.