05/07/2025
Buscot have many amazing staff that care for babies needing neonatal care, and their families.
So many staff, all with different roles and responsibilities, all working together to give the best possible care and support to babies and families.
This post from Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust celebrates two sisters, Cruz and Teresa who have worked in the Housekeeping Team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for a combined total of 106 years!
Teresa works on Buscot 💜
The story shared by Cruz in the article serves to remind us all that team work really does make the dream work:
I'll never forget one Christmas, a few years ago, a Consultant said to me and my colleague "Let me tell you, you are very, very valued members of the team. You are like the roots of the tree. If the roots are not healthy, the branches will not grow. Never let any one look down on you, as the job you do is as important as mine, we are all one team.” And that has always stuck in my mind, and I remember it if I’m having a difficult day."
Thank you Teresa for your dedication to Buscot, and Cruz for all you have given of yourself.
We hope that both Teresa's and Cruz's retirement is full of wonder and joy.
Royal Berkshire NHS Maternity
BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support)
🌟 To celebrate the NHS’ Birthday, meet Teresa and Cruz who have worked here for a combined 106 years! 🌟
Hi I’m Cruz, and along with my sister Teresa we have worked in the Housekeeping team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for 106 years. I started in 1971 and Teresa started in 1973. We are from La Coruna in Northern Spain.
We came to the UK at the ages of 19 and 20, and after a couple of different jobs in housekeeping and hospitality, we joined the team at the Royal Berks and have been here ever since. Teresa works in Buscot, which is the neonatal ward within our maternity department, and I work in Loddon ward which looks after respiratory patients.
We can’t believe we’ve worked here so long, it doesn’t feel like it. We’ve been very lucky to work with nice people - it feels like a family. It’s incredible to think of all of the cups of tea and Horlicks we must have made over the years, the number of chats and jokes we’ve had with people that might have made their days a bit better, and the number of steps we’ve walked all around the hospital.
We may work in different departments, but our roles and our days are quite similar. We start at 7am and the first thing we do is clean the clinic areas and offices we know the doctors and nurses will need straightaway, and change all the jugs of water in our wards. We both feel part of ‘our’ teams in Buscot and Loddon, and over the years we’ve built up lovely relationships with members of staff working there. I’ll never forget one Christmas, a few years ago, a consultant said to me and my colleague “Let me tell you, you are very, very valued members of the team. You are like the roots of the tree. If the roots are not healthy, the branches will not grow. Never let any one look down on you, as the job you do is as important as mine, we are all one team.” And that has always stuck in my mind, and I remember it if I’m having a difficult day.
We’re finally planning our retirements, and heading back to Spain soon. We will miss the hospital, and the people and the routine. We will never forget the Royal Berks and all the people we’ve met over the years, and we’re proud of the contribution we’ve made.
