Radiographer Margaret Sharp to retire after a distinguished career at St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London
Margaret Sharp, a pre-treatment superintendent therapeutic radiographer, will be retiring today after a distinguished career spanning over 40 years at both St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London hospitals.
Margaret qualified as a therapeutic radiographer in 1976 and went on to study diagnostic radiography, qualifying in 1977.
She began working in radiotherapy at The London Hospital, now The Royal London Hospital, in December 1977. Her dual qualification gave her the perfect combination of knowledge and skills to work in the planning department for radiotherapy, effectively bringing together the best of diagnostic and therapeutic radiography.
Margaret was keen to work her way up the career ladder in radiotherapy and was appointed to ‘senior one’ in 1981 followed by superintendent in 1988, which saw her leading the pre-treatment section at The London Hospital.
She found herself managing the simulators at both locations until services were consolidated at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Margaret is also known for providing teaching to therapeutic radiographers, student radiographers, clinical oncologists and radiotherapy physicists.
Margaret says that her retirement plans involve gardening at her home in Northampton, walking and resuming her passions for singing and going on holidays.
Anne Nauth-Misir, Margaret’s line manager and lead therapeutic radiographer at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said: “I personally have very fond memories of working in Margaret’s pre-treatment team in the early days of my career.
“In celebrating and reflecting on her long career with friends and colleagues, it’s clear that many people from all professional disciplines feel the same way.
“It is quite unusual for someone to stay in the same job role for their whole career, accurate imaging and planning of radiotherapy remains the goal, but the incredible advances in technology means that achieving that same goal is barely recognisable to how it was in 1977.
“It is a credit to Margaret that she has remained committed to what she loves with patients at the very heart of her work.”
St Bartholomew’s chief executive Charles Knight said: “I wish Margaret all the best in her well-deserved retirement.
“She has built a long and impressive career at both hospitals and our radiography services wouldn’t be what it is today without her dedication and commitment to patient care and her mentorship for the next generation of radiographers.”