Matt Morgan: How to say goodbye with style and meaning

Although first impressions count, last goodbyes can grow in resonance as years pass. The new UK government is rightly focusing on recruitment and retention of doctors, but we’ll always have colleagues who retire or rotate. When people start a new job we have induction programmes to welcome them as new workers, giving them ID badges and parking spaces. But when valued staff leave after a lifetime of service, too often there’s a void.This year in my own department we’ve had colleagues retire after 40 years of service, while others have moved on to new challenges after a decade spent working shoulder to shoulder with their team. Celebrating, recognising, and remembering people who leave should be a core part of fostering community in the NHS, rather than an afterthought. Over the years I’ve seen too many oversized “Sorry you’re leaving” cards hastily passed around for strangers to sign at 4 pm…
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