Nurse Joan retires after 40 years at Walsall's Manor Hospital

But after exactly 40 years at Walsall Manor Hospital, nursery nurse Joan Hurley has decided to hang up her stethoscope.

The 67-year-old said she would miss seeing and being around babies every day and working alongside her colleagues - or her 'family' as she calls them.

"I'll miss the babies but I'll also miss my colleagues," she said. "We were all so close and just like one big family."

Mrs Hurley, who lives in Field Road, Bloxwich, started at the hospital in 1974 after landing a job as a nursery nurse. Before that she worked at Coalpool Nursery School in Walsall and she trained to be a nurse at Bilston College.

She continued: "When I was younger I wanted to go into midwifery but it never quite happened. I've always worked in the neonatal department.

"In the early days I did a bit of everything. I cared for small babies and I was often in charge of the unit. I also carried out training.

"Back in those days the unit was tiny. Sometimes there were only two staff on the ward. It's a lot bigger now.

"My role diminished over the years but I've always cared for premature babies and given their parents as much support as possible."

As a neonatal nurse she had to care for premature babies when they were born, taking their temperatures, checking their blood sugar levels and feeding them.

Mrs Hurley, who has three children of her own and three grandchildren with another two on the way, recalled one baby born on the ward who weighed just 1lb and 4oz - far less than an average bag of sugar.

"She was so tiny but she gained weight and survived," Mrs Hurley said. "I've always loved seeing the babies progress and then finally leave hospital with their parents.

"Some of the babies were with us for four or five months which is quite a long time. All the babies I cared for were special in their own way."

Another highlight was working alongside midwife Nicky Heath, who she had cared for as a baby when she was born at the Manor Hospital.

Mrs Hurley added: "I worked with Nicky for about 15 years. It was strange seeing her after all those years. I didn't know who she was until she mentioned it.

"I do remember her as a baby. Some babies stick in your mind but I must have cared for thousands so I can't remember them all. I enjoyed my 40 years at the hospital. I wouldn't change it for the world."

On her last day at work, Mrs Hurley enjoyed a tea party with her colleagues on the neonatal ward.

Then some of her closest workmates took her to Calderfields Hotel in Walsall for a knees up. Mrs Hurley was given money and presents for her send off at the occasion.

Mrs Hurley said she would be spending her spare time in her much-loved garden, tending to her home-grown vegetables.

And she added she'd be spending more time with her family and going on holidays with her husband Michael, who is a painter and decorator.

Angela Bubalo, acting matron on the neonatal unit, said Mrs Hurley would be sorely missed.

She said: "Joan was clearly a significant member of the team and her loss will be felt across the service.

"However after a lifetime's service, the trust can fully understand why she has made what must have been a very difficult decision on her part to retire.

"Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank Joan personally for all of her hard work and dedication to the service."

In the last 12 months the number of premature babies admitted to the Manor Hospital's neonatal unit was 450.