Retired nurse ready for frontline return in NHS virus battle

A FORMER Lymington hospital nurse who recently retired after 46 years of service has applied to go back to the NHS to help battle the coronavirus outbreak.

Alison Husbands (64) said she had “sent her application off immediately” after hearing of the desperate need for medical staff.

She said: “I am hoping to go back on the NHS bank as soon as possible so that I can help out as much as I can where I can.”

Alison has enjoyed barely three weeks of her retirement from being a theatre sister at Lymington, but says she “did not hesitate” to answer the call for former NHS staff to come back.

Her actions will not surprise former colleagues at Lymington hospital where she has worked since 1996.

They had planned a surprise party for Alison but due to coronavirus were unable to have it.

Instead colleague Sue James presented her with a plaque inscribed with the names of the hospitals she has worked at during her long career along with flowers and gardening vouchers.

A special gift was a belt made by a nurse out of recycled jeans to hold the tools Alison uses in her hobby of wood turning.

Ms James told the A&T: “Alison is a complete inspiration to everybody here. She is just the most wonderful, kind, caring person.

“Nothing is ever too much trouble for her, and she has a been great teacher to so many nurses over the years.”

Paying tribute to army of NHS workers already on the frontline against Covid-19, Alison said: “I think they are absolutely fantastic – but that is what health professionals do. We are trained to do it and we do.”