Krishna Mahay joined Sangam Surgery in Toronto Avenue in 1981 after covering a sick receptionist for a few shifts developed into a permanent position.
Krishna spoke to the Recorder two days ahead of her final shift in four decades.
She said: “I just covered someone on sick leave and then they asked me to do full-time work which I couldn’t do at the time because of my small child.
“After four months or so they asked me to come back again and work for them so I started then around September 1981 and from that day until my retirement, I’m still going strong.”
“She has become a beloved figure known for her kindness, generosity, and tireless service.
“She’s always here, for patients, for staff, for the community – wherever humanity is required, she’ll be there.
“It makes a huge difference if you know the surgery, you know the patients and you can give personalised care – I tell everyone else to give service like Krishna.”
Krishna admitted that she has seen a substantial change in her job role as well as the landscape of the NHS since joining Sangam Surgery.
When she started, “it was all about taking out files, greeting patients, boiling the medical instruments – it was so different to now – we had no computers and it was all manual”.
“People also used to have respect for the doctors and staff but that’s no longer here – no matter what community you were in, you had respect and love for everybody but you don’t see it anymore – people are demanding a lot more from the NHS.”
When asked why she had stayed in the role for so long, Krishna explained that it’s because she is a “people’s person” and could not have worked any other job.
Meenakshi agreed and recounted times where the two of them walked through the streets of Newham together with many people recognising Krishna.
“People who pass her either give her blessings or take blessings from her – at every step, it is amazing how many people she knows,” said Meenakshi.
“She knows generations and generations across Newham and we have had patients come in to give her presents and even crying because she’s leaving.
“This wasn’t a 9-5 job for her – she never worked to the clock, she worked to the need of the patients.”
Krishna devotes her weekends to cooking meals for hungry people and volunteering for charities such as the Life in London Trust.
She said: “It doesn’t matter what community it’s for – if people need food then I’ll cook for them but it is mostly for the Hindu community.”
Krishna worked her last day on Friday March 28 when the surgery held a celebration party for her.
Meenakshi joked that she could not imagine Krishna enjoying retirement by relaxing and insisted that “she’ll be somewhere working in charity again”.
Krishna said: “My kids have asked, ‘what’s going to happen to Newham without you, mum?’ but I’d love to still help patients even if I’m not working – I’ll check in and see if people need help.”
