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Britain's Longest Serving Nurse Retires After 66 Years

Britain's Longest Serving Nurse Retires After 66 Years

She joined the NHS when it was just four years old

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

The UK's longest serving nurse, who joined the NHS when it was just four, has retired after 66 years.

Monica Bulman, 84, was a Registered General Nurse (RGN) at Torbay Hospital in Devon where she was part of the specialist outpatient surgical clinical team for endoscopy.

Her retirement coincided with the 70th anniversary of the NHS - with Monica working an astonishing 66 of those years.

Monica was just 19 when she started work as a State Enrolled Nurse in 1952, she carried out further training and earned her State Registered Nurse (now known as RGN) status in 1957.

Apex

She said: "The NHS has been a huge part of my life and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

"But I have decided that it's now time for me to put my fob watch and belt away to enable me to spend quality time with all my loved ones.

"I have absolutely loved being a nurse - it has brought me so much pleasure and I have enjoyed every single second.

"It's certainly going to take some getting used to with not coming in to work and seeing all my wonderful patients and colleagues.

"I'm going to thoroughly miss being a nurse."

Talking about the changes she's seen during more than six decades as a nurse, she quipped: "Nursing has changed a lot over the years especially the technology, which is wonderful - unless it breaks down!"

Adding: "Although we now have much more paperwork to compete, it is fantastic that with the technology we can now look up our patient's x-rays and test results at the click of a button rather than having lengthy waits for the information.

"Another change that amuses me is that years ago the theatre nurses, who were all gowned up, had to manually thread the needles for surgery, whereas now these all come in packs, pre-threaded.

Apex

"The uniforms have also changed considerably although I have to admit I did prefer our old uniforms, they were much more glamourous.

"I bought a belt to wear with my uniform when I qualified in 1957 - I still have and wear the very same belt to this day."

During her career Monica has helped care for tens of thousands of patients, at a number of different hospitals.

Opening up about how much she has enjoyed her career, Monica said: "I have never been unhappy at work and have so many wonderful memories and friendships that will be with me forever.

"My job has kept me going and helped me through some of the toughest times in my life.

"I don't know what I would have done without my colleagues and a job where I could dedicate myself to caring for others."

Liz Davenport, Interim Chief Executive of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I am sure I speak for everyone at the Trust when I say we are incredibly grateful for Monica's incredible 66 years of dedicated nursing service in the NHS - she really is an inspiration to us all.

PA

"It's no mean feat to be one of the longest serving nurses in the country.

"We are so proud that she has been a member of our staff for so many years and we know that many people will have benefitted from her nursing skills and positivity.

"We wish Monica all the very best in her retirement and we're sure that she will make the most of this new and exciting chapter in her life."

Featured Image Credit: Apex

Topics: UK News, Inspirational, NHS