Judith: A legacy of kindness, calm and invaluable impact

Every single day thousands of people across Sheffield Children’s work together to help provide outstanding care for children and young people. Our impact is testament to the belief that children deserve the very best future possible and we’ve not stopped working to make that happen for 150 years.

This Administrative Professionals Day we’re celebrating the extraordinary impact made by people who may not always be front and centre, but who provide essential support to help outstanding care happen. One colleague who embodied that during her time at Sheffield Children’s was Judith Watson, who retired last year after 39 years of service.

When Judith first walked through the doors of Sheffield Children’s in 1986, she admits she was “petrified”. Having come from a large adult hospital in Hull, everything felt new. But it didn’t take long before she realised she was exactly where she belonged.

Starting as an Admissions Officer, she became one of the first faces children and families encountered. Judith’s days were spent offering reassurance, organisation and calm at moments that could feel overwhelming. That role shaped her entire career and embodied what administrative work in healthcare is all about.

Over nearly four decades, Judith witnessed enormous change – from rooms filled with paper files to the digital systems we rely on today. “You look back now and wonder how it ever worked with all that paper,” she laughs. Yet through every change, one thing never shifted: her commitment to children and families. “We prided ourselves on getting each child seen as soon as possible.”

One morning, a giggling little boy hid under Judith’s desk waiting to jump out at her. Decades later, she was stopped in a café by a man who smiled and said, “You admitted me when I was a kid.” These moments stayed with her.

When Judith retired in 2025 as Waiting List Coordinator for Surgery and Critical Care, the number of colleagues who came to wish her well left her “a little overwhelmed”. It was a fitting reflection of how woven she had become into the fabric of her teams.

Judith’s story speaks to the heart of what our administrative professionals do every day. They enable care, support teams, and quietly make sure that everything works as it should.

Judith is now enjoying the freedom of retirement and her legacy continues through every colleague who brings kindness, dedication and pride to their work, helping us create healthier futures for children and young people every single day.