Ann clocks up 30 years!

SISTER Ann Bebbington has clocked up 30 years in Warrington Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department and is planning many more to come!
Sister Ann started at Warrington Hospital, or rather the Borough Hospital as it was known on November 1 1980 in the brand new Accident and Emergency Department.
Warrington Infirmary had closed its doors on January 3 1980 and amalgamated with the Borough and started recruiting staff for its new Casualty unit to open in November of that year. Ann was working at the Manchester Royal having just completed her nurse training in March 1980 to become a State Enrolled Nurse (something that no longer exists today). Coming from Burtonwood, Ann decided to apply to her local hospital and as they say the rest is history!
In September 1997 she took the step to becoming a Sister by taking the conversion course at Liverpool John Moores University and two years later in 1999 qualified. She has always worked in the A&E department, but has taken secondments in different areas of the hospital to gain experience of how other teams work.
Ann recalls some of the more interesting moments at work, “I have so many memories but the 1982 nursing strikes is one that springs to mind, when we travelled down to Liverpool Docks and I stood up and made a speech in support of Unison. I am passionate about my role as a nurse and have been through many changes; good and bad, but feel it is important to speak up.”
Ann also remembers a rather eventful shift,“It was when we were modernising Appleton Wing and changing the A&E department around, they cut through the wire and we were in complete darkness and had to work with miners torches on our heads. The department was closed to patients that day, but we did have to manage the walk up patients, now that was a challenge with no power!”
It has not been all work on the department for Ann, romance blossomed on A&E as well; she met her partner of 20 years, Ken who was an ambulance man at the time.
Commenting on her 30 years Ann explained,“I’m passionate about Emergency Care, I love people and the fast pace of the department. I’m looking forward to the coming years and helping bring about more changes. “I’ve had fun, met some fun people and made a lot of lifelong friends and wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve laughed, cried, sang, danced, studied and even argued along the way.”
Picture: Sister Ann Bebbington with a bouquet presented by her colleagues in celebration of her 30 years service.