Our News

Mick Collins remembers the exact date he started working at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. It was 17 January 1983 and he worked as a Security Guard on the building site as the hospital was being developed. 40 years on and he is still here and has had a variety of roles. Here he shares his story:

“I remember starting as a Security Guard on the Hinchingbrooke Hospital site as the building was going up. It was great to see a new hospital gradually come together. I soon moved into another role in the Stores department, helping to fit out the nursing accommodation and hospital and also worked in General Portering in October 1983, but I wanted to progress in a different career and Theatres really attracted my attention.

“In September 1985 I started my training as an Operating Department Practitioner and qualified in 1987. Back then we only had 4 theatres, but by 1988 we increased that number further and now we have 12 in total in both are main hospital and in our Treatment Centre.

“I really enjoyed the role and now work as the Team Leader. No two days were ever the same and you always felt a sense of achievement when you were involved in each operation, helping to patch someone back up again and recover.

“Our team has expanded to over 100 staff now and surgery and procedures take longer to do. The equipment is far more complex and we have lots of paperwork and checks to do, but it is vital that we get everything right and all of our clinical items are in the right places.

“It is exciting to see that we now have a brand new Theatres Block being built. It has been great to be involved in the process and I am due to retire and return part-time this year to support the team and ensure they have everything in place ready for our first day in the new building. It has been great to see Hinchingbrooke grow and develop over the years and now we are going full circle as we open our new theatres.”