Publish date: 23 September 2025
This week we mark the retirement of Carol Shillitoe.
After an extraordinary career spanning over four decades, this week sees the retirement of a truly dedicated and passionate professional working in learning disability care. Carol began her career at Brockhall Hospital on 2 May 1978 as a nursing assistant. She quickly embarked on her student nurse training that September, qualifying as a Registered Learning Disability Nurse in December 1981.
Throughout her career, Carol has embraced a variety of roles, including Ward Manager, Clinical Governance Lead and Modern Matron. Although she officially retired in 2013, her passion for nursing brought her back in 2014, where she continued to make a significant impact within the clinical governance team, taking on a wide range of responsibilities and always giving her best.
Head of Nursing for Learning Disabilities Nicola McNulty tells us: "Carol's commitment to excellence and patient care has been unwavering and the way she works ‘back-stage’ to support clinicians to support quality improvement and clinical excellence has been phenomenal!"
Her love for her work and her colleagues has been evident every day. Now, as she steps into retirement once more, she looks forward to spending more time with her family - her family and their beloved dog Cleo. She’s excited to take up new hobbies, cross stitch, knitting, enjoy long walks and even some foreign coach travel (though she’ll be avoiding aeroplanes!).
The team and especially her friends in the learning disability services thank Carol for her years of service, dedication and the positive difference she has made to so many lives.
Nicola adds: "We wish her a joyful, fulfilling retirement filled with happiness, adventure and well-deserved relaxation."
