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Tribute to Mima Puddicombe OBE, former Addenbrooke's matron

Mima Puddicombe OBE, matron at Addenbrooke's from 1958 to 1970, has died aged 91. A tribute from W. Graham Cannon, Former House Governor and Secretary at Addenbrooke's Hospital follows:

Miss Mima Puddicombe OBE

Mima Puddicombe was one of the rare breed of matrons who retained her essential caring, patient centred approach, throughout her distinguished career. She came to Addenbrooke's in 1958 from the Leeds General Infirmary where she had been Deputy Matron. She completed her nurse training at UCH in London and wore the badge of that hospital when on duty - always dressed in a very smart black uniform. For those who did not know her there are some attractive photographs of her in the Board Room at Addenbrooke's taken at the time of the formal opening of the hospital by the Queen in 1962.

When I came to Addenbrooke's in 1960 Miss Puddicombe was well established as the dominant nursing voice and she was listened to with respect by everyone. This was important because the years following her appointment were those when the shape of the new hospital was being determined and significant decisions were being made which would affect the quality of patient care for years to come. A few examples: the building of an experimental central sterilising unit in 1959 which replaced the old 'boilers' on the wards: the creation of the first intensive care unit in the same year on Hatton Ward (a medical ward): the experimental waste disposal units on two wards at Trumpington Street so that their efficiency could be tested before inclusion in the plans for the new hospital. All these needed the nursing experience and expertise which Miss Puddicombe brought to her post and gave unstintingly.

Mima Puddicombe meeting the Queen at the official opening of Addenbrooke's Hills Road in 1962

She did this without losing touch with what was happening in the wards and departments. Her 'rounds' were not formal processions but practical working visits so that she could suggest changes and inform herself about what was going on. I was always amazed that she knew all her nurses by name - and a lot of the patients too. She never made an administrator's life hell (as some matrons had been known to do!), but she was persistent and demanding in her requests and, annoyingly, so often right!

Miss Puddicombe took the decision to leave Addenbrooke's in 1970 at a time when the changes in nursing management recommended in the report of the Salmon Committee (1966) where shortly to be brought into effect nationally. This was typical of Mima; she realised that as she would soon be retiring it would be better for Addenbrooke's if a younger chief nursing officer could be appointed to take the Hospital forward. Miss Puddicombe left for an advisory post at the Department of Health, but not without first receiving the so well deserved honour of OBE in 1971. Her departure was a great loss to the whole hospital but she retained her contacts and her affections for Addenbrooke's for the rest of her long and caring life.

May 2005

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.