Local lady celebrates over 45 years of caring at Tetbury Hospital
TETBURY resident Hettie Niblett recently retired from a career of over 45 years spent caring for patients at Tetbury Hospital.
Hettie started her career with the hospital in 1970 soon moving into her much-loved nursing role.
In the early 90s she was part of the nursing team during the difficult time when the hospital was faced with closure by the National Health Service.
The local spirit to save the hospital along with tireless fundraising by the local community meant she was back on the wards in no time as part of the newly- formed Tetbury Hospital Trust which now provides care on behalf of the NHS to patients closer to their homes.
Hettie worked on the newly-refurbished wards and then, when the NHS no longer wanted the hospital to provide in-patient care, she moved to the Day Surgery Unit where she has remained until her recent retirement.
The hospital gathered on the April 5, 2016, to celebrate Hettie’s career and her dedication to caring for the people of Tetbury and the surrounding communities.
Current and past staff members attended the event to reminisce and celebrate her contribution to the success of the hospital and her dedication to the fundamental values of caring for people.
The Charity’s patron, HRH the Prince of Wales, who has met Hettie on many occasions during visits to the hospital, sent a personal tribute which will be treasured.
Zena Dalton, Chief Executive of Tetbury Hospital, said: ‘It is with mixed emotions that we say farewell to Hettie, we wish her well in her retirement, but will miss her. She is part of the fabric of this building and it will be strange not seeing her in the Day Surgery Unit. We’ve already extended an open invitation to come and visit us whenever she is not too busy enjoying her retirement’.
Stephen Hirst, Chairman of the Tetbury Hospital Trust, said: “Hettie has been the caring face of Tetbury Hospital for more years than people care to remember. She was always available to provide a friendly, cheery face together with a welcoming cup of tea and sometimes some toast as people recovered from their operation and she carefully made sure that the patient was fit enough to go home before taking them to meet their waiting relatives or carer. She will be sorely missed by all at the hospital, staff and patients alike.”
Take the time to visit tetburyhospital.co.uk and get a complete picture of the wide range of services provided at your local Hospital.
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