Article originally published in December 2016.

She’s delivered thousands of babies, met royalty and featured on TV. 

But after 41 years on the job dozens of colleagues held a fond farewell for Sister Kay Duggan at Princess Anne hospital.

The midwife, who first came to Southampton in 1979 after training as a nurse in London, said she was “absolutely overwhelmed” by the send-off, which saw colleagues and hospital staff speak highly of their much-loved colleague. 

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Originally from Salisbury, Sister Duggan’s mother and father were both nurses - as well as two of her brothers and a sister. 

After completing her midwifery qualifications - and while living in a nurse’s home where the new children’s A&E is currently being built - Sister Duggan started working at the newly opened Princess Anne, meeting the illustrious royal at the opening ceremony and looking after the first mum to give birth at the new maternity hospital. 

Kay became a sister in 1984 and stayed at the hospital for the next 32 years - but said the only thing that has really changed is the technology. 

She said: “Midwifery is still essentially the same. It’s all about looking after the mother, baby and partner and really it doesn’t change. 

“But you have to use computers now even to give prescriptions. That’s been the biggest challenge for me but midwifery is still wonderful and enjoyable. I have loved it.”

She added that her career highlights were delivering three babies who then went on to become midwives at St Anne’s themselves, working with midwives from Europe, and being featured in the first two series of hit TV show One Born Every Minute, which aired in 2010 and 2011. 

The Shirley resident added that she was “grateful” to have reached the age of 63, and that it was “really just her feet” that were stopping her from working.

She has no firm plans for retirement. She said: “I have had a long career but it’s better to go while you’re still doing your job well.” 

Speaking on a pre-recorded video at Ms Duggan’s retirement party consultant obstetrician David Howe said Sister Duggan had made an “important contribution to the Princess Anne”, while colleagues described her as a “role model and inspiration”.