TWO long-term friends who have lived their lives in step have both decided to call time on their careers.

Best friends with the same first names who went to the same school and trained in the same nursing college before working together in the same department, have just shared the same retirement party at the University Hospital of South Manchester.

Bernadette Hough and Bernadette Campbell started their nursing training at Wythenshawe Hospital in 1979 after leaving Loreto Grammar School. Now, 38 years later, the two nurses have retired from UHSM where they spent their entire working lives.

At a farewell party hosted by colleagues, friends and patients, the two nurses were presented with gifts, flowers and cards to say thank you for all their hard work over the years.

Mother-of-two Bernie Hough, 55, of Timperley, said: “We both always wanted to be nurses but it just felt like the right time to retire. We have seen a lot of the consultants start as junior doctors and then move up the ranks.”

Berni Campbell, 56, of Sale, has no firm long-term plans for her retirement but hopes to visit her daughter who lives in Spain and her son who is in Glasgow.

She said: “We have had a really good career at Wythenshawe Hospital and made lots of close friends. It has been a real family with a really good camaraderie.”

Memorable events while working at Wythenshawe Hospital include the tragic engine failure and fire on take-off from Manchester Airport of British Airtours Flight 28M, in 1985, during which 53 passengers and 2 crew died.

They both worked in what was the first High Dependency Unit in the country. They looked after the first transplant patient at Wythenshawe Transplant Centre, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this month. They also have fond memories of a royal visit by Princess Diana.

Mandy Bailey, Chief Nurse, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Risk and Governance at UHSM, said: “Our staff are the Trust’s best assets and to have two such dedicated nurses working at Wythenshawe Hospital for 38 years showed their level of loyalty and dedication to patient care. They have been an amazing support to all their colleagues over the years and everyone would like to wish the Bernie Hough and Berni Campbell all the best with their retirement.”