St Catherine's worker retires after 28 years

A long-serving member of staff at Saint Catherine's has called it a day after 28 years at the hospice.
Diane Wingfield, second left, is presented with flowers and gifts as she ends her time at Saint Catherines Hospice.Diane Wingfield, second left, is presented with flowers and gifts as she ends her time at Saint Catherines Hospice.
Diane Wingfield, second left, is presented with flowers and gifts as she ends her time at Saint Catherines Hospice.

Diane Wingfield hung up her uniform earlier this month for the very last time.

Diane started as a volunteer at the old hospice building on Scalby Road when her children were young.

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She said: “I would come in and help in the In-Patient Unit and the Day Hospice. I loved the volunteering and when I was offered some paid hours as a health care assistant in the day hospice I was delighted.

Diane with some of her gifts.Diane with some of her gifts.
Diane with some of her gifts.

“Being at Saint Catherine’s has been a big part of my life. It is full of wonderful people.

“The staff, the patients and families are all great.

“Despite what people may think, it is a very happy place to work. It is a place that gives people time and that is something really special. The staff here are like one big family, they are my best friends.”

Is it the patients who Diane will miss the most though.

Diane with some of her gifts.Diane with some of her gifts.
Diane with some of her gifts.

Diane added: “I love developing relationships with patients and getting to know their families.

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“I like to know about them, who they are, where they have come from and what I can do to help them with their problems.

“I want to know how I can care for them. It is the neurological patients who amaze me the most. I marvel at their strength and perseverance.

“They have shown me what people can be capable of. I see the best from these patients even though they must be going through a really difficult time in their lives.”

Diane plans to spend her first few weeks of retirement enjoying walks on the beach and window shopping.

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She said: “You’ll never find me just being home, I don’t like staying in. I will be out and about doing something.

“I already have a holiday booked and a trip to Iceland with my daughter organised for next year.

“I will miss Saint Catherine’s at Christmas time. I will wonder who will be putting the decorations up and what it looks like.

“But, after doing it for 28 years, it’s probably someone else’s turn to take charge of it.”

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Tracy Scofield, the day hospice team leader who has worked with Diane for the past 28 years, said: “Diane is the kind of lady who makes Saint Catherine’s special.

“The patients love her easy nature and none of us will forget her amazing laugh.”