WHEN Vicky Parker began her working life as a trainee typist for the city council it was on a manual typewriter.
In the intervening years she has worked her was through all stages of new technology.
And now she has shut down her 21st century computer for the final time after retiring as a medical secretary at University Hospital.
It marks the end of a 43-year career with the health service that began in the council’s health department as a shorthand typist and ended at the new University hospital via school ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinics on Gulson Road, Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital and the old Walsgrave Hospital.
“Over the years there have been many challenges including changes in working patterns and technology, moving from manual to electric, then electronic typewriters and eventually computers, while audio typing has taken over from shorthand,” said the 65-year-old who lives in Walsgrave.
As a youngster she had initially wanted to be a teacher, but added: “I have never regretted it and have been lucky to work for some great consultants and junior doctors, I have even seen some of these juniors progress to consultants and worked for them again and there have been one or two registrars who became consultants and then retired before me.”
Among those to see her off on her last day was Dr Hardial Singh, a consultant cardiologist who she had worked with for around 27 years.
He said: “Vicky and I have probably set some sort of record for a secretary-consultant partnership.
“She has been my most important colleague and friend at work. The quality I most admired was her helpfulness, whether she was dealing with me, her other colleagues or our patients. Her retirement has left a void and she will be missed by many.”
