Former nurse, 80, who was working until Covid, joins Sunak at opening of hospital’s new eye unit
A NEW eye unit at a Northallerton hospital that will treat up to 14,000 patients a year has been opened by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and constituency MP, Rishi Sunak.
The MP for Richmond was joined at the opening ceremony by Friarage Hospital’s longest-serving member of staff – 80-year-old Doreen Eaton.
The nurse started work at the hospital in 1956. She retired aged 60 but returned to work and then retired again at 65. She then joined NHS Professionals, which supplies temporary staff, and until Covid-19 was still working regular shifts.
Mr Sunak paid tribute to Mrs Eaton’s ‘amazing service to the hospital and community’ as he toured the former Allerton Ward, which has been converted into the Allerton Eye Unit.
It offers all of the services previously provided by the ophthalmology team from the hospital’s main outpatients department on a larger scale.
Clinics will increase from eight a week to as many as 30, which means that hundreds more patients will be able to have their appointments at the Northallerton site.
Mr Sunak said: “It is great to see this investment at the Friarage Hospital which will result in more treatments being delivered here at our local hospital and fewer journeys to James Cook (hospital) for patients.
“It is just one of a number of recent developments at the hospital which I know have been welcomed by patients who want to be treated here at the Friarage.”
The development work and purchase of additional equipment has been supported by The Friends of the Friarage and a special plaque has been placed on the unit in recognition of their contribution.
Clinical director for ophthalmology Phil Severn said: “We are really excited to be taking over the unit. This development is fantastic news for patients across the Hambleton and Richmondshire area.
“It means we will be able to treat a lot more patients on the Friarage site, reducing the need for people to travel as well as reducing waiting times.”
Mr Sunak said it was appropriate that Mrs Eaton should be present at the opening.
“Mrs Eaton has seen a lot of changes at the hospital during her long career so it was lovely that she could be present to help at this next stage in the hospital’s progress to a brighter future.”