NHS Wales secretary who helped establish the Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre retires after 40-year career
09 April 2026
A long-serving NHS secretary who played a key behind-the-scenes role in developing clinical services at Llandough Hospital is retiring after more than 40 years.
Jan Scott, from Penarth, is stepping down after a career stretching back to the late 1970s.
“I’ve had continuous NHS employment since 1979, but I actually started in 1975 for two years before I had my third child,” she said.
Jan first joined the hospital as a paediatric auxiliary nurse, also working in the receiving room, now known as the medical emergency assessment unit.
Although she had always wanted to become a nurse, starting a family young led her to take a different path into healthcare.
By the mid-1980s, she moved into a medical secretary role — a position that would define the rest of her career.
“I did love being an auxiliary nurse,” she said. “But I saw a job as a medical secretary in dermatology, and as I had trained as a secretary, I applied and was successful.”
She later spent eight years working with Professor Andrew Finlay before moving into clinical pharmacology in the 1990s with Professor Phillip Routledge.
During that time, she supported the establishment of the Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, now the All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre.
“Setting up the Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre whilst continuing to support consultants as a medical secretary was a very busy time,” she said. “It was interesting work, but very demanding — working single-handedly to get things organised.”
Much of the work was done before digital systems became widespread.
“Everything had to be dictated and typed up,” she said.
Jan’s office also became known for its personal touch, with Cliff Richard calendars lining the walls.
“People used to draw things discreetly on them and wait for me to notice,” she said.
Alongside organising meetings, correspondence and audits, she played a key role in setting up a specialist adverse drug reaction clinic.
“I’m proud of the part I played,” she said. “It’s the only clinic of its kind in Wales.”
Jan’s work included helping to coordinate patient admissions and supporting the clinic as it evolved, including the shift to virtual appointments during the COVID pandemic.
“Virtual clinics have benefits, but also limitations,” she said. “Getting outpatient clinics back has been a challenge.”
Reflecting on her career, she said she has seen significant change at Llandough.
“It has grown and grown over the years,” said Jan who added it is colleagues she will miss most.
“I’ve gained a lot of respect and trust over the years,” she said. “I will miss everyone greatly.”
For now, she plans to take things slowly in retirement, with plans to travel and take up bowls in the summer.
Dr Alison Thomas, who has worked with Jan since joining Clinical Pharmacology as a medical registrar in 1998, said: “Throughout the years Jan’s professionalism, attention to detail, organisational skills and support has been invaluable to both mine and the wider Clinical Pharmacology team.
“She has also shown great kindness to our patients and they have expressed how grateful they have been for her help.
“Jan has also been a trusted confidant, and true friend and she will be sorely missed by our consultant team. Jan we wish you a long, happy, and healthy retirement.”