Much loved colleague, Jenny Penny will be leaving Manchester Local Care Organisation after over 55 years of service in the NHS.

Starting in the NHS as a Cadet Nurse at 16 years old, Jenny became a Qualified Nurse in 1967 working in general theatres, midwifery and then district nursing. Jenny’s husband joined the Army and moved to Derry, Northern Ireland. Jenny moved over and began nursing. She worked through minor strikes, power cuts, petrol rationing and having to climb 22 flights of stairs twice or more a day to deliver care (as the lift was unavailable due to power cuts).

The family then moved to Cambridge where Jenny worked at Papworth on the Cardiac Unit at the same time as Sir Roy Calne and Sir Terry English were performing groundbreaking transplant procedures. Jenny then worked as a District Nurse in rural Cambridge for two years; then a further three years at Garrison Families Medical Centre in Minden, West Germany.

During this time, Jenny’s mum became unwell and Jenny returned home to Manchester and became a Health Visitor. Whilst waiting to start her training, Jenny worked at the mother and baby unit at HMP Styal before starting her Health Visiting career in Salford.

Jenny then lived and worked in Cyprus for two years, working as a Midwife, Health Visitor and School Nurse. She also did a clinic up the Troodos Mountains on Mount Olympus in the winter and had to stop halfway up the mountain to change into snow gear!

Whilst in Cyprus, Jenny saw that North Manchester were advertising for Health Visitors. Jenny started on January 11 1988 at Varley Street Clinic in Miles Platting and has spent most of her career at various clinics in North Manchester. Jenny moved to South Manchester 9 years ago to be closer to home and has been a Health Visitor in the LCO since 2018.

Karen Fishwick, Lead Nurse for Children’s Community Services at MLCO, said,

“On behalf of all Jenny’s Health Visiting colleagues we would like to wish her a long happy, healthy and fulfilled retirement. Following her long and varied career she will be greatly missed not only as a supportive friend and colleague, but also as a knowledgeable and experienced Health Visitor who always put the needs of the children and families on her caseload first.

“Jenny has always been a great advocate for nursing and health visiting and should be immensely proud of the care that she has given to families over the years that have really improved the health outcomes of Manchester children.”

What a journey! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication over the years. Wishing you a healthy and happy retirement from everyone at MLCO!