After 66 years, Britain’s oldest nurse retires
BRITAIN’S oldest and longestserving nurse has retired after 66 years, still wearing part of her very first uniform.
Monica Bulman began walking the wards in 1952 aged just 19 – four years after the NHS was born.
She qualified as a registered nurse five years later and went on to dedicate her life to treating tens of thousands of patients.
The 86-year-old grandmother finally ended her long career last week at Torbay Hospital in Devon.
As she hung up her uniform, Monica revealed she was still wearing the belt she wore on her first day as a qualified nurse.
The mother of two from Torquay said: “The NHS has been a huge part of my life and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“However, 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, not coming in to work and seeing all my wonderful patients and colleagues. I’m going to thoroughly miss being a nurse.”
Mrs Bulman said she had seen many positive changes over her six-decade career but the uniform was not as “glam” as it used to be.
She added: “Nursing has changed a lot over the years, especially the technology which is wonderful – unless it breaks down.
“Although we now have much more paperwork to complete, 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. 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.
“The uniforms have also changed considerably although I have to admit I did prefer our old uniforms – they were much more glamorous.
“I bought a belt to wear with my uniform when I qualified in 1957 – I still wear the very same belt.”
Mrs Bulman began her career in London, moving to Devon in 1968.
She celebrated her 65th birthday in 1998, after 20 years at Paignton Community Hospital, but decided she “didn’t want to stop”.
She went to Torbay Hospital as a temporary bank nurse – but ended up staying for another 20 years.
Dedicated
Her last post was as part of the specialist outpatient surgical clinic team for endoscopy.
Monica still regularly attends the gym and spinning classes, is an avid reader and also a keen member of a skittles club.
She added: “I do like to keep fit and healthy, but I also like to be ‘glam’. I enjoy going to my local beauty salon as well doing all my hobbies.
“Most of all I love spending time with my family and grandchildren – this is what I enjoy the most.”
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.”