University of Sunderland

Yvonne Hudson

Yvonne Hudson works as Health Information Lead in Public Health at NHS South of Tyne and Wear, and she is also studying part-time for her BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care.

Yvonne, who is 42, had a successful career at the NHS, managing public health improvement information teams in Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside. She felt that with her qualifications she had gone as far up the career ladder as she could, and decided to return to part-time education.

"I worked part-time while I was bringing my kids up and realised that if I wanted to progress I would need to get more qualifications.

"When I left school the thought of going to university was totally alien to me, I didn't know anyone who had gone down that road, and it was not something I thought I would ever be doing.

"I'm amazed that I've done it - and I'm finishing my degree at the same time as my son (Carl, 21, who is studying BSc (Hons) Network Systems).

"It's a worry when you've been out of formal education for a long time, and I was worried that I wouldn't fit in as there are lots of young people on the course, but I found it absolutely fine.

"It is something I'd never thought I'd do. But if you've climbed as high on the career ladder as you can you should definitely go for university, you'll be surprised at what you can achieve."

Yvonne Hudson, Health Information Lead in Public Health, NHS South of Tyne and Wear, BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care.