Sandra Garbutt (70) from Leeds recently retired from Leeds Children’s Hospital after a 51 year nursing career in Leeds Hospitals!
In 1975 Sandra started her nursing journey as a student nurse at St James’ University Hospital, having arrived at the front desk of the hospital and asked how to become a nurse, at the age of 19.
Sandra worked at Seacroft and Killingbeck Hospitals and soon fell in love with children’s nursing. In 1989 she took on the role of Children’s Night Sister at Leeds General Infirmary. In 1996 She became Senior Sister for Children’s Outpatients Department at Leeds Children’s Hospital where she has spent the last 30 years of her career!
Sandra has been instrumental in shaping the Children’s Outpatients Department into the thriving department that it is today. She has led several department moves and grown the team along the way. Sandra is well-known to her colleagues for making use of any and all space in hospital buildings to grow the department and create more room for patients. Her catchphrase – having spotted an unutilized space – being ‘I’ve had an idea…’
Matron Sarah Fletcher said:
‘Sandra will be remembered for her kindness, her compassion and the way she would always make time for anyone who needed her. To Sandra, the children and families always come first. If she could make a difference to a child’s experience or give support to a struggling parent she would make it happen. A true professional, a compassionate leader, a kind and caring Children’s Nurse.’
On Friday 23 January colleagues and former colleagues including surgeons, consultants, nurses, hospital managers and housekeeping staff gathered to give Sandra a worthy send-off in the Children’s Outpatients Department.
Leeds Children’s Hospital Head of Nursing, Laura Whelan said:
‘Sandra has displayed outstanding leadership, enthusiasm and care. Children’s Nursing is a special vocation and Sandra has tirelessly served our community of children, young people and their families for 51 years! She leaves behind a legacy of kindness and compassion. Thank you Sandra for your outstanding contribution to children’s nursing – we wish you a long and happy retirement’
In her retirement Sandra plans to enjoy more time in her garden and on holidays including travelling to New Zealand to spend time with family (although she is still planning to pick up the odd bank shift!)
On her last official day at Leeds Children’s Hospital Sandra thanked her friends and colleagues across Leeds Teaching Hospitals as well as the patients and families that she has loved working with:
‘51 years is a long time but working with such amazing people and loving the work you do makes it easy… My advice to new children’s nurses is to love what you do and remember that behind every drip, drain and monitor is a child and a family’