Hospice worker to retire after almost four decades

A healthcare support worker at a hospice she describes as "the most amazing place on Earth" is retiring after 38 years.

Lynn Parkin has worked in nearly every department of Dougie Mac in Stoke-on-Trent, a place she calls "a little oasis in the middle of Blurton."

The 65-year-old, who is one of the longest serving members of staff, said it had been a privilege to support patients, and an amazing place to nurse.

"You won't find any nicer people, you won't find any animosity between people..we all work as a team," she said.

Ms Parkin said she had wanted to work at the hospice after comments her auntie, who was dying of cancer, made to her as a young girl.

She told her she did not want to go into the Dougie Mac as "you only come out in a box."

The healthcare support worker said she had worked to change the stigma around hospices.

"It's not that place anymore, it's a place where people can go and just relax, and know that we are there for them, take all their worries away, and be nursed like they should be nursed."

People in the hospice love the sound of laughter, to have a chat and to have a joke, said Ms Parkin.

"Nothing is any different really because they are dying..they love us going into them, we make their day, they make our day, it really is a beautiful place."

It had been a big decision to step away from the job she loved, but with an elderly mother at home, Ms Parkin said she felt it was the right time.

The healthcare support worker recently won the carer of the year category at the Staffordshire Your Hero awards, and said the recognition was just the best feeling.

"You don't come to work expecting the glory, you come to work because that's where you want to be, and that's what you want to do."

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