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One of Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s longest-serving nursing duos is retiring- following over 80 years of dedicated service between them. 

Long-standing and highly respected Urology specialists, Sandra Siddle and Carol Edmunds will be bidding the Trust a fond farewell after being at Hinchingbrooke in Huntingdon since its modern-day inception. 

Sandra began her nursing career at the former Hinchingbrooke County Hospital on New Years Eve 1980 -the same year the Rubik’s Cube was invented! Carol joined in July 1987, relocating from the Midlands, at a time when Rick Astley was topping the charts. 

Since then, both have worked closely throughout their journey at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - initially working within Orthopaedics-Urology at a time when Hinchingbrooke specialised in spinal surgery before the department moved into different areas of expertise.

Carol and Sandra have experienced many professional changes together throughout Hinchinbrooke’s history. Carol, with the support of her consultant colleagues, became the first specialist nurse in the country, which led to further professional development as a Nursing Consultant in Urology. Meanwhile, Sandra has built a respected legacy as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology. During their decades of service, both have provided exceptional care and put their patients at the foremost of everything they have done. 

Carol and Sandra’s professional partnership, and friendship, has been mirrored with personal milestones as well - with both experiencing their first pregnancies at the same time and having their eldest children within a week of each other.

Sandra said: “I’ve been privileged to see Hinchingbrooke develop from the very start and how it’s evolved into the fantastic place it is today. As the hospital enters a new chapter, so am I, as I’ll be continuing to look after people after my retirement as a home help. I’m so proud of the work we have done for our patients, the service we’ve provided and what we will be leaving behind for future staff to continue to grow.”

Pic cap: Sandra Siddle, Clinical Nurse Specialist Urology (left) and Carol Edmunds, Nurse Consultant for Urology (right)