Colchester Hospital children’s ward sister Kim Ness. Picture: Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity
When Kim Ness was a student nurse in Colchester, children’s nursing was a field she was initially unsure about.
Fast forward 35 years, it’s where the now children’s ward sister spent the majority of her nearly 50-year NHS career.
Kim has spent decades caring for patients, supporting families, and inspiring colleagues alike. She found her passion for caring for children and their families later in her career – and never looked back.
The children’s nurse, based at Colchester Hospital, is retiring today, 30 June, after 46 years of caring for patients – on the day the UK marks the first national Children’s Nurses Day.
Kim’s retirement marks the end of a nursing career that began in 1980.
Kim pictured as a student nurse
She started her training at Severalls School of Nursing, aged just 19. Over the years, she has seen – and helped shape – many changes in healthcare. From the era of traditional Nightingale wards to the modern, patient‑centred environments of today.
Reflecting on her early career, Kim recalls a time when wards were large open spaces, student nurses wore traditional uniforms with hats and belts, and visiting hours were strictly limited. Children’s care was also very different, with parents rarely staying overnight and treatment options far more limited than they are today.
“I always wanted to be a nurse from a very young age,” Kim said.
“Looking back, it’s incredible to see how much things have changed – not just in the buildings and technology, but in the way we care for patients and support families.”
Kim’s nursing career has spanned nearly five decades
After qualifying in 1982, Kim worked across a wide range of specialties, including long‑term care, general surgery, gynaecology and cardiac nursing. It was her return to paediatrics in the early 1990s, however, that would ultimately define her career.
“Once I came back to the children’s ward, I realised how much I loved it,” she said.
“I never imagined that 35 years later I would still be here – and eventually leading the ward as ward sister.”
Kim, left, pictured with colleagues at the opening of the new children’s sensory garden at Colchester Hospital. Picture: Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity
Over the years, Kim progressed from staff nurse to deputy sister before she became ward sister on the Children’s Ward at Colchester Hospital in 2008. She completed a children’s nursing degree along the way, too, becoming a respected leader within the team.
Kim’s colleagues describe her as a compassionate clinician, a dedicated mentor and a constant source of support for both staff and families. Throughout her career, she has helped guide generations of healthcare professionals at different stages of their careers.
Kim, who’s been married for nearly 40 years and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren, said: “It has been a privilege to watch so many people grow and develop.
“I’ve worked with incredible colleagues over the years – some who are still here, and others we remember fondly.”
Kim has also played a vital role in supporting patients and their families through some of their most challenging moments, providing care that extends far beyond clinical treatment.
Catherine Morgan is Chief Nurse of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which runs Colchester Hospital.
She said: “Kim’s career embodies everything that nursing is about – dedication, compassion, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to putting children and families first. We are incredibly grateful for the difference she has made to so many lives throughout her long and dedicated career.”
As Kim prepares to say goodbye, she admits she’s feeling a mixture of emotions about stepping away from what she calls her “second family”.
She added: “It’s the people I’ll miss the most – the colleagues and the patients who have meant so much over the years. But I feel ready for the next chapter.
“I don’t have any big plans for now. I’ll be catching up with my ever-growing jobs list at home and enjoying my garden while I weed and tidy it.
“I’ll be 65 in October and it’s my 40th wedding anniversary in July, so we’ll probably combine the two and go cruising.”
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