The “mother” of Ward 301 was given a suitably warm send-off by colleagues as she enjoyed a deserved retirement party at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

Cecilia Hinds is hanging up her apron as a nursing auxiliary after 36 years of working for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).

Satyen Yadav, Ward 301 Senior Sister, said: “She’s known as mother because she tends to look after everyone and mothers them a bit.

“She’s also very good at organising and brings that to the team, so we will miss that.”

Cecilia began her career in 1976 at the former General Hospital, where she worked as a domestic supervisor, but then moved to the Selly Oak site when the General Hospital closed in 1995.

She then moved from Selly Oak to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1998 to work in the Renal Dialysis Unit.

Sister Yadav added: “She has worked in the NHS for 36 years so we thought we could give her a good send-off to mark her retirement.”

Cecilia was presented with a Royal Doulton vase and fruit bowl, together with a bouquet of flowers and cards, during a party in the staff room.

But colleagues won't be seeing the last of her, as she is coming back to work for UHB on a part-time basis.