Abigail Trainer, Deputy Chief Nurse:
Tell us about your journey into the NHS and is there anything you would do differently?
I always wanted to be a nurse, at 16 I took it upon myself to leave college and join the NHS as an auxiliary nurse on the youth training scheme, I did this without my parents’ consent as they were keen I completed my A levels first. I then applied to undertake my registered nurse training in 1994 aged 17. I qualified at 21 and never looked back. I would change a thing about my journey, I feel honoured every day to be a NHS nurse and try and ensure everything I do is to make sure patients, their families and staff have the best care and support possible.
If you were stuck in a lift with anybody who would it be and why:
My husband, he is very practical and working together we would get our way out!
Your most inspirational female icon, past or present?
My mum, she is a strong, compassionate and hard working. She brought up four children and worked full time. She taught me about being kind, giving people a second chance and let me make my own mistakes but is always there to pick up the pieces.
What is your favourite food and most disliked, and why?
A really good curry from my local take away and fish, I don’t like any aspect of any fish, from taste, smell and texture
Do you have any phobias?
Motorways, I have a real phobia about driving on the motorway and I have tried all different methods to get over this
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Always wanted to be a nurse (see picture below which I did aged 7)
Tell us something funny about yourself:
I never wanted to be called Abigail, when I was younger I told everyone I was called Sylvia and my main aim was to change my name to Sylvia Claire when I was an adult. As you can see that never happened…
