International Women's Day: Meet three dynamic women defying convention

Today is International Women’s Day 2024 – a day aimed at promoting a gender equal world and inspiring inclusion.

It’s a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital is proud to have many extraordinary women working in different areas of the trust, from clinical to construction.

On International Women’s Day, we spoke to some of the hard-working members of staff to hear their stories and learn the life lessons they want to share.

These women share their successes, passions and aspirations as well as their advice for others who want to pursue a career in healthcare and beyond.

By highlighting their achievements, we want to celebrate their contributions, recognise their diversity and encourage more women to join and thrive in the NHS.

The trailblazing nurse who illuminates lives

Linuji Thomas is the divisional nursing director at Arrowe Park Hospital

International Women's Day is a global occasion to honour the achievements and struggles of women in various fields.

One of the most vital and challenging profession that women have contributed to and excelled in is healthcare, especially nursing.

Linuji Thomas is the divisional nursing director at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.

She said: “The strength of nursing is that it’s historically a women’s workforce.

“I'm proud to be a nurse.

“Coming into the profession has made me a better mother, a better daughter, a better wife, and a better person.”

Linuji's path diverged slightly from her childhood dreams of microbiology.

She comes from a long line of nurses back home in Kerala, India - between a nurse sister and a nurse brother, Linuji stands as the middle child.

Out of 32 grandchildren, 20 went into nursing and they work on hospital wards around the world.

Mother-of-two Linuji said: “It really is a very noble profession.

“The amazing thing about nursing is that it unfurls a myriad of paths - from specialisation to management.

“I worked my way up from a band five nurse to a divisional nursing director.”

She added: “Even our hospital chief executive Janelle Holmes blazed a trail from nurse to CEO.”

From scrubs to steel beams: Joanna Jarvis bridges medicine and construction for a healthier tomorrow

After a fulfilling career on the NHS front line for 30 years, Joanna Jarvis needed a change of direction

Joanna Jarvis defies conventional boundaries.

She worked in the intersection between healthcare and infrastructure - a dynamic woman who defies conventional boundaries.

Joanna was an emergency department nurse in the bustling corridors of a Greater Manchester hospital.

Now the 57-year-old navigates the world of steel beams and blueprints at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.

Whether she’s been clad in scrubs or been standing amid the hum of construction, Joanna emphasises the importance of making a difference in people’s lives and playing a pivotal role in shaping the future.

Joanna said: “The thing I love most in upgrading the hospital’s urgent and emergency care department, is working with a multidisciplinary team to make a project successful.

“I know that the new emergency department is going to make the environment better for patients and staff.”

It was Joanna’s passion for helping people that led her to nursing.

She said: “I knew I wanted to work with people.

“At one point, I even considered joining the police force.

“But in 1983, fresh out of school, I embarked on a pre-nursing course and the rest is history.”

After a fulfilling career on the NHS front line for 30 years, Joanna needed a change of direction.

She wasn’t ready to retire and was craving something less demanding yet equally impactful.

That’s how she found herself at the heart of a multi-million-pound renovation.

Her experience of managing a department during a similar-sized hospital build gave her a unique perspective.

Joanna said: “Having clinical experience in construction projects is rare but it is helpful.

“I understand the heartbeat of a busy 24-hour emergency department and I can decipher architectural plans.

“It is like being bilingual - both languages are essential.

“But building dreams while balancing budgets can be hard.

“Imagine a bustling ED and a major construction work coexisting.

“We’re choreographing progress while safeguarding patient care.”

Meet the woman who is shattering stereotypes in the construction industry

Charlie Whiteside defies convention on a construction site

Demolition worker Charlie Whiteside defies convention on a construction site at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.

As the only woman amongst her male colleagues at the new emergency and urgent care facility, she bravely confronts the challenges of a traditionally male-dominated field.

Charlie’s enthusiasm for her job is evident and she relishes the camaraderie with her colleagues, who respect her abilities and strong work ethic.

Charlie said: “I warn them not to treat me like a girl.

“Working in construction is hard work but I genuinely enjoy it.”

Forty-three-year-old Charlie originates from a historic cotton-spinning village near Preston.

Her journey into the construction industry began at the age of 16, inspired by her father, Eddie Whiteside - a renowned Lancashire salvager featured on the popular reality TV show Salvage Hunters.

Together, they dismantled old buildings and collected materials, sparking Charlie’s lifelong passion for construction.

Despite her diagnosis of emphysema eight years ago, Charlie remains undaunted.

She maintains her fitness covering more than 30,000 steps a day during her work at Manchester Airport.

Her resilience and determination serve as an inspiration to other women aspiring to enter the construction field.

Only 12.5% of the construction workforce is made up of women, with most occupying administrative or managerial roles.

Charlie’s presence challenges this norm, proving that women can excel in any domain.

She hasn’t encountered discrimination nor harassment in her work.

Charlie said: “Anything is possible if you set your mind to it.”

Charlie, who works for Inglenorth Contracting Ltd, encourages women to pursue their passions fearlessly, breaking stereotypes along the way.

She said: “Go for it! You can achieve anything.”