Retired midwife fundraises for Weston Hospicecare at 60th birthday celebrations

A retired Weston midwife has marked her 60th birthday celebrations by raising £100.00 for Weston Hospicecare.

Kath Roberts, who worked in midwifery for the majority of her medical career, enjoyed a 38 year career with the NHS and asked those kind enough to buy her a present to donate money instead.

While for much of Kath’s career her focus was to welcome new lives to the world, it was a developing friendship with the hospice’s Chair of the Trustees Judi Driscoll which inspired her to support the hospice on her 60th birthday.

She said: “I worked for the NHS between 1975-2013 with a short break of a couple of years when I had two children.

“I qualified as a general nurse and then four years later as a midwife. It was as a midwife that I worked predominantly.

“I began working in Weston General Hospital in 1988 as a midwife and became head of midwifery in 1998. I also had managerial responsibilities for the integrated sexual health service and the acute hospital paediatric and community children services a little later in my career. I then retired from the NHS in 2013.

“I became more interested in the amazing work the hospice does through Judi, our friend and neighbour.

“The atmosphere is so warm and welcoming, the staff are all very much enjoying their work. The facilities that are available offer a truly holistic approach to care including a man shed.”

Earlier this year the hospice introduced a shed to the garden to support the men in sheds group. The group is part of the hospices strategy to try and support bereavement men talk about how they are feeling while working on DIY projects.

Kath continued: “The gardens also offer a tranquil sanctuary for patients, families and staff to enjoy.

“The hospice to me was the only charity to donate to as the care and support it gives to patients and families is very difficult to put into words the difference it makes.

“The hospice is an integral part of the community and must always be due to how important end of life care is. So thank you to all at the hospice for the role you play in our community.

“I raised the money at my recent joint 60th birthday party, where I asked my guests that if they were kind enough to wish to buy a present could they donate money to Weston Hospicecare.”