Publish date: 9 May 2023
Audrey Goodey to the left of tutor Peter and her fellow new-starters in 1991
Visiting relatives in hospital as a child was the spark that led Andrea Goodey to choose a career in nursing.
“I visited Blackpool hospital a lot when I was young,” she said. “The nurses were so kind and used to show me things – and I thought this is what I want to do.”
Andrea did a pre-nursing course at Blackpool College before beginning her formal training at the Vic aged 19.
She enjoyed the camaraderie of “living in” at the hospital with fellow nurses and doctors. These were the days when nurses wore capes and hats which she remembers fondly. “It was hard work but worth it.”
On qualifying, Andrea worked in A&E for eight years before embarking on a series of community roles including work with homeless families and young offenders. She is now a school nurse.
A degree in community practice from the University of Central Lancashire, funded by the NHS, helped her to secure more specialist roles.
“We are lucky to have the NHS and we need to make sure we keep and look after it,” said Andrea.
A routine scan recently picked up a cancer for which she is now getting treatment, seeing care from a patient’s perspective.
“If it wasn’t for the NHS, I wouldn’t be here,” she said.
