Happy retirement Gill!

 
The nursing team: (from left) Lynne, Leanne, Gill, Annie and Debbie.

The nursing team: (from left) Lynne, Leanne, Gill, Annie and Debbie.

Huge congratulations and very best wishes to practice nurse Gill Bailey, who retires today from Oundle Medical Practice after 26 years.

Gill, who has been a nurse for 47 years, was part of the surgical nursing team at Kettering General Hospital before moving to Oundle in 2000. She started as one of only two part-time nurses and has seen the practice develop in size, scope, working practices and the use of technology in healthcare.    

She has been a vital part of the team helping tens of thousands of patients. The nursing role has changed dramatically with practitioners having increased autonomy, specialist training modules and the option to complete prescribing qualifications. However, nothing quite marks the passage of years than seeing babies that she vaccinated in the early days, attending the practice with their own children!

Gill, who spend time as Team Lead, is planning a retirement around her family, keeping fit and  travelling extensively: ‘We have a close group of friends that we travel with to places like Vietnam, Cambodia and Turkey.  I am planning a family trip to Japan and Australia is also on the bucket list, along with places closer to home.

 ‘When I first started, there were only two practice nurses and we each worked half of the week so there was no interaction between us. Now we have a very keen and young nursing team working very closely with a great spirit. I will really miss the patients and the brilliant group of girls I work with. It is going to be very emotional to leave as I have known all the staff here, including dispensary, reception and GPs, for such a long time, but I will be taking great memories with me.’

The thing that Gill is really looking forward to is, after years of having to adhere to the NHS’s ‘bare below the elbow policy’ she has finally booked a professional manicure and gel nails!

Good luck Gill, we all wish you a brilliant retirement, full of travel and adventure. Thank you from the patients and Oundle team for being a wonderful colleague, brilliant nurse and great friend.

Published: Sep 25, 2026