An Oxford NHS trust's chief operating officer is set to retire after a 45-year NHS career.

Sara Randall, who has held the role at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust since June 2019, is retiring later this month after working for the NHS since 1979.

Originally a nurse, she also served at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre twice, from 1984 to 1987 and again in 2001.

Ms Randall said: "It seems like yesterday that I started working here.

"It has been a privilege to be part of this trust and I have made lifelong friends in my time here.

"I'd like to thank all of my colleagues for their compassion and drive, and the kindness and respect you show each other every single day."

Professor Meghana Pandit, chief executive officer at OUH, added: "Sara has held this demanding position for several years now, and her retirement is certainly well-earned.

"Her constant support and leadership has been such an important factor to us all at OUH - we will all miss her very much and her legacy will remain with us."

Felicity Taylor-Drewe will take over as chief operating officer at OUH in October.

She currently holds the same role at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Between Ms Randall's retirement and Ms Taylor-Drewe's arrival, Lisa Glynn, director of clinical services at OUH, will fill the role.