Last day on children's ward for popular staff nurse Sandie

Staff nurse, and lead oncology nurse for children, Sandie Mallett, started work at The Princess Elizabeth Hospital in 1976.

She stopped in 1978 to have two daughters, Sara and Emma, but returned on a part-time basis in 1984 and has been there ever since.

She now found herself looking after a second generation.

'A mother who I previously nursed as a premature baby, recently came in with a premature baby of her own,' she said.

It had been a very rewarding career which had given her the chance to meet some fabulous families and work with some lovely colleagues.

'I think we have a really good unit here in Guernsey and we are lucky to have the number of children-trained nurses and paediatricians that we do, given the size of the population.'

Mrs Mallet began her nursing training in Jersey in 1970 before working at a general hospital in Wales.

She did her children's training in Bristol before returning to Guernsey in 1976.

In 1990, along with former colleague Liz Bell, she was asked to undertake a pilot study as to whether there was the need for a children's community nurse. They found there was and the role exists to this day.

She also campaigned with others for parents to be allowed in the anaesthetic room, which is now common practice.