Royal Preston Hospital nurse retires after 50 years with NHS

Eileen Burbridge, Theatre Manager at Royal Preston Hospital.

A theatre manager at Royal Preston Hospital has taken her well-earned retirement after half a century in the NHS.

Eileen Burbridge admits being a nurse was all she ever wanted to do, after reaching her milestone last month.

Eileen started out as a cadet, training at the old Preston Royal Infirmary, Sharoe Green Hospital and Whittingham Hospital on 2 September 1974.

Eileen Burbridge enjoys her retirement celebrations.

Eileen said: “I always wanted to be a nurse from about the age of 6. My cousin was a nurse and my mum was training to be a nurse when she married my dad and gave it up. It’s all I ever wanted to do.

“I trained at the old PRI, Sharoe Green, and Whittingham – fantastic meat pies, and pickled onions in the club on a Friday! Our college days were at Alston Hall in Longridge, which was beautiful.

“I briefly gave up at 21 as I didn’t think I could be responsible for people’s lives at that age, so I went to work in the prescription pricing bureau in the Lostock Hall Medical Centre, so still NHS-based.

“I then went to work at Peter Craig’s mail order services in Preston, where I met a girl who had been on the same training course, got pregnant and gave it up. She asked if I wished I could go back – she said, ‘I can’t, but there’s nothing stopping you!’ and I reapplied and got in at Wythenshawe for my State-Enrolled Nurse training.”

Eileen Burbridge's cake. — Eileen Burbridge’s cake.

Eileen met her husband, Colin while doing the theatre course at Wythenshawe, whilst he was a porter. They have been together for 44 years.

Looking back on her career, she talked about some of her highlights and achievements: “I was also involved with the commission of the vascular theatres here. I went to Germany and London to look at the theatres, to look at different variations, along with the surgeons, radiologists and radiographers.

“We helped design them and ensured that we incorporated windows as the research showed that it is better for reducing stress levels and helping with sleeping. I’m proud of that, before that we didn’t really have a vascular service. We all did a really good job with those.”

Now, Eileen is looking forward to spending more time with her family, and her ‘boring’ hobbies.

She added: “This is all I’ve ever known, but I’m calling it a day, I have retired and returned before when I was 60, but I’m 67 now, it’s time.

“I cross stitch and make chocolate, all the boring stuff! I just want to spend time with my husband while we’re both fit and healthy and see my two beautiful grandchildren.”

Back in January, Eileen’s fellow Theatre Manager Ros Aspinall also celebrated 50 years with the NHS, but while Ros admitted she has no plans to finish just yet, Eileen is to sign off from a remarkable career at the end of this month.

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