STAFF and patients at Melksham Hospital have said an emotional farewell to District Nurse Yvonne Harper who has retired after 29 years.
Friends, family, colleagues and patients gathered together last month for a special lunch to wish Yvonne well in her retirement.
Yvonne has been a nurse within the Melksham community for 29 years, working at Giffords Surgery and Melksham Hospital. In 1991, Yvonne became a Community Nurse Specialist and spent most of her time in the community.
Yvonne said, “It was a lovely surprise to see everyone at the lunch – I was hoping to just slip away quietly but I was very pleased to see so many people there.
“It was a difficult decision to make but now is the right time to retire. Melksham is such a brilliant place to work and I’ve met some lovely people. Working in the community has been wonderful and I will miss everyone. I have three grandchildren who I’m looking forward to seeing more of, as well as gardening, reading and doing more arts and crafts.”
Alison Taggart who worked with Yvonne for 12 years said, “Yvonne will be sorely missed. She is always there for other people, offering advice and guidance – she has a lot of experience and she is always willing to share her knowledge. She looks after everyone, especially the student nurses. She is well-known and well-liked within the community because she is so caring. She is very community orientated and a very dedicated nurse.”
