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September 1972, “You wear it well” by Rod Stewart was UK number one, the BBC broadcast Mastermind for the very first time and a young Denise Rich was at the very start of her nursing career. Fast forward over 50 years and Denise still works in the NHS at Peterborough City Hospital as a Children's Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Denise started her nursing training at Northampton General Hospital School of Nursing, when she was only 17, and has cared for thousands of local patients, and their loved ones, ever since. A career that spans over 50 years has seen Denise start on a busy male medical ward before moving to Manchester to specialise in Children's nursing, working as a sister on the burns unit. A move to London, to work on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit before moving back to Peterborough to work on a paediatric unit which was the first time Denise worked on a specialty general paediatric ward.

Denise commented: “I have been privileged to see a lot of change in the NHS over my career, time have changed, how we work is very different and there are lots of new roles that play a part in a patient's journey. There have been many ups and downs but training as a nurse was a fantastic decision, and I haven't looked back in 50 years!

“I'm really proud to say that I have been able to help and support so many patients and their loved ones. Seeing families who I have cared for is incredibly rewarding and I enjoy stopping for a chat, in my profession it is so important to treat patients the way you would want your loved ones, or yourself, to be treated. I always remember that it could be a member of your family laying in a hospital bed, requiring care.

“I feel lucky to have met so many amazing and inspirational people and have learnt so much from everyone.”

Jo Bennis, Chief Nurse at North West Anglia Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, added: “I know I speak for all Denise's colleagues when I say how proud we are of her. We feel privileged to have Denise as part of our nursing team. She has built an amazing wealth of knowledge over the years, which is such a bonus for our patients. Congratulations to Denise on over 50 years' of nursing. We hope to be working with her for many more!”

 

Pic cap: 

Left: Denise in 1979 before attending an awards ceremony whilst working in London

Right: Denise in 2026 on Jungle Assessment Unit where she works as a Children's Advanced Nurse Practitioner