She began working at The QEH as a housekeeper in 2012 but quickly found a calling for a more hands-on role caring for babies and their families.
Just over 12 years later, through sheer hard work, determination and support, the 41-year-old is now a registered paediatric nurse on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
As a housekeeper, Leanne’s job involved keeping NICU running smoothly by making sure equipment was available and the ward was tidy.
However, it didn’t take long before her admiration for the care given in the unit sparked a deeper interest. Within weeks, she also took on a role as healthcare assistant, supporting the clinical teams caring for the babies on NICU.
By 2015, Leanne was promoted to a neonatal nursing assistant, where her responsibilities included feeding babies and ensuring their families received the emotional support they needed.
She then pursued a foundation degree in neonatal care at Norwich City College in 2019.
Not stopping there her quest for learning saw her complete a two-year foundation degree and she became a neonatal assistant practitioner in 2021.
Leanne took the next step toward her dream career by enrolling in a paediatric nursing top-up course at Anglia Ruskin University. In October 2024, she achieved her goal and qualified as a registered paediatric nurse.
Looking to the future, Leanne is now focused on becoming a neonatal intensive care nurse.
Reflecting on her career, Leanne said: “It’s a great job, rewarding, and a privilege to work with the babies and their families. Watching the babies get better and seeing them go home with their families is by far the best part of the job. It’s amazing to be trusted with these most precious babies.”
Kit King, Matron for Women’s and Children’s Services at the QEH, said: “Leanne is incredibly caring to our babies and families, a great team player, and someone that all the neonatal team love to work with. I am very proud of her; she is a fantastic role model and a shining light for ambition and dedication”.
As an anchor institution employing more than 4,000 staff, the hospital is well-known for nurturing talent, offering 45 apprenticeships covering a wide range of clinical and non-clinical disciplines alongside numerous training and development opportunities for staff aiming to advance their careers.
Pippa Street, Chief Nurse at The QEH, highlighted the hospital’s commitment to staff development: “We are committed to growing our own staff here at The QEH. That means investing in our staff and helping them to reach their full potential.
“Leanne’s journey from housekeeper to registered paediatric nurse is inspirational. It shows the importance of dedication, compassion, and continuous learning in making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.”
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
Photo: Leanne Howling and six-day old baby Daisy Fletcher, born at 29 weeks to parents Gemma Mott and Mark Fletcher.
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