Friends and colleagues gathered to pay a fond farewell to Susan Johnstone who retired after 35 years’ service.

The eHealth service delivery manager, who was based at Kirklands Headquarters, Bothwell, joined the health service in 1981 when she took up employment with the former Glasgow Health Board.

In 1987, Susan joined NHS Lanarkshire where she held several posts including deputy administrator, contracts manager for GP fund-holding and business manager, all at Hairmyres Hospital.

In her role as business manager, Susan was part of the team which carried out the transition of patients from the old Hairmyres to the “new” hospital. Susan also played a major role in the implementation of the patient management system TrakCare across NHS Lanarkshire.

While at Hairmyres, Susan studied for and obtained a MBA from Strathclyde Business School.

Susan moved to eHealth in 2001 as patient management system project manager when the first system was implemented across Lanarkshire within Wishaw, Monklands and Hairmyres hospitals, a post she held until her retirement.

Susan is a member of the SSPA board and regularly volunteers at the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre. In her spare time, Susan also enjoys gardening and hill walking.

Liz McCulloch, head of eHealth programme, said: “Susan is well known as part of the eHealth patient management system team but also at Hairmyres as a business manager. Susan has been instrumental in implementing complex patient management systems across NHS Lanarkshire. We all wish her well for the future.”