“IT’S time for a change.”
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With these words, Chris Coombs, the director of nursing and midwifery at Tamworth hospital, graciously acknowledged that, after 15 years in that position, new horizons beckoned and that it was time to pass on the baton.
At her retirement morning tea yesterday, a beaming Mrs Coombs said she’d witnessed many highlights in her 15 years at the hospital.
“The first redevelopment with the building of the new emergency department almost 10 years ago, the cardiac catheter lab and, of course, the cancer centre,” Mrs Coombs said.
“It’s been great and the growth of services coming to Tamworth has been amazing.”
Mrs Coombs said the culture at the hospital was excellent – a fact which The Leader can verify as our publication regularly receives letters of praise from families who have experienced brilliant service from caring staff.
“The one thing is the people, the nurses – they’re fantastic,” Mrs Coombs said.
“Tamworth hospital has a wonderful culture, caring for patients, caring for staff – it’s just great ... and I’ll miss all that.
“It is sad to say goodbye, but it’s time: with the redevelopment about to begin, the place is looking forward to a new chapter and so am I. It will be nice for a new face to bring the new development in.”
Ricki Bradbery is now acting in the position while recruitment for Mrs Coombs’s job takes place.
Mrs Bradbery was full of praise for Mrs Coombs.
“She’s done a lot for this service and nursing staff – she’s always looked after the nursing staff and has been a good manager,” she said.
Mrs Coombs said she and husband David, a mental health patient safety officer at the hospital, would now be going on a trip in their camper trailer.
Next year, they’ll also fly to Ecuador and take a trip around the Galapagos Islands.
But Mrs Coombs said she would also be doing part-time work as a surveyor for the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards – the organisation responsible for reviewing hospital performance for accreditation.
Tamworth hospital general manager Brad Hansen said the hospital had been privileged to benefit from Mrs Coombs’ leadership and years of experience.
“Chris is often our ‘go-to’ person,” Mr Hansen said.
“She knows the history behind just about every service and has so many contacts in the community. Her dedication to health is second to none.”
Mrs Coombs began her career at St Margaret’s Children’s Hospital in 1970 and completed her general training at Auburn hospital in 1972.
She nursed in hospitals across Sydney before becoming a clinical nurse educator in Townsville.
She later ran services at Casino and Lismore before arriving in Tamworth in 1998.