Mum’s the word at Vale of Leven Hospital as families work together

Mother’s Day was extra special at the Vale of Leven Hospital this year, for three pairs of mothers and daughters who work together.

Ann Coll and Elaine Hetherington, Louise Fox and daughter Freya and Katy McCallion and mum Anne Madden all work in the Alexandria hospital’s Acute Medical Receiving Unit.

Senior Charge Nurse Katy, from Balloch, who works alongside part-time Bed Manager mum Anne, who lives in Dumbarton, said: “Mum was a Senior Charge Nurse before she retired and when she came back part-time, it was really useful for me as she knew exactly what my job involves so she has been a really great support to me.

“Although she was a nurse when I was young, I don’t really think I knew what the job was exactly. When I was a bit older, my gran was admitted to the hospital and I saw my mum while she was working – she was caring for people, helping people, and that’s when I knew I wanted to become a nurse.

“My dad and husband are driven daft by us and say all we do is talk about nursing, but that’s who we are.”

Louise and Freya Fox were just about to do their first shift together last week, although Freya, a bank Health Care Support Worker who will begin a medical degree when she finishes school later this year, has been working at the Vale since last October.

Freya, from Alexandria, said: “It was seeing what mum was doing through covid – working long, hard shifts, getting home late at night – that really made me want to work in healthcare.

“I’ve learned so much doing this and I think it has given me great experience for going into medicine. I’ve had a chance to see how the NHS works, how hospitals work and how different teams work together.”

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Staff nurse mum Louise began her nursing career in the hospital’s Lomond ward – which was the ward she was actually born in.

She said: “It’s now one of the Care of the Elderly wards, but was previously a maternity ward and my first shift after qualifying was in Lomond, so it’s really quite a special place for me.

“I went on to work at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for 11 years, but I was glad to get back to the Vale. It’s pretty much a five minute walk for us to get home, so it’s ideal in that way.

“This hospital is such a big part of the community and I love working here.”

Staff Nurse Ann Coll and daughter Elaine Hetherington, a Health Care Support Worker currently completing an HNC Healthcare Practice at Glasgow City College on day release, fully funded by NHSGGC – are another family pairing on the ward.

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Elaine, from Helensburgh – who was also born in the Vale – said: “It’s great working with my mum, but when I see her working, I see her as more than my mum, I see her as the nurse she is.

“I’ve been able to learn on the ward and that’s a massive benefit. Everyone, including my mum, has something to pass on to the rest of us.

“This hospital is pretty special – you can walk on the ward and you’ll know someone, either a patient or staff member, or they will know someone in your family.”

Ann, who is also from Helensburgh, added: “Learning plays a big part in nursing and we have a team here who have lots to share with nurses coming through.

“This is a hospital that really serves the local community and a lot of that comes from the fact that so many of the staff come from that community.”