A DEDICATED hospital worker who devoted 43 years of her life to helping patients in Bolton has retired.

Yvonne Irwin first got a job in Bolton Royal Infirmary’s medical records department in 1971 — when she was just 18.

After four years she took a career break to have her sons — Nathan, now aged 40, and Gareth, now aged 38.

Then when Bolton Royal Infirmary closed, its services were transferred to what was then called Bolton General Hospital, now the Royal Bolton.

Mrs Irwin returned to work as a clerical officer in the hospital’s busy medical emergency unit, before become a ward clerk on an acute medical ward in 1990.

She continued in this role as clerk – responsible for all the ward’s administration, from admitting patients to booking ambulances – for the next 25 years until her retirement last month.

The 61-year-old, of Sutherland Road, Heaton, said: “I loved my time at Bolton Royal Infirmary — it was a small hospital where everyone knew each other.

“I did a variety of clerical jobs here, my favourite being working on reception in the outpatient department or in the casualty department where I loved the interaction with all the different characters.”

Mrs Irwin said the biggest change she saw over the years was the introduction of computers.

The grandmother-of-one said she was looking forward to being able to spend more time with her husband Geoff, a singer who retired 10 years ago, with the couple soon to take a three-week holiday to Bulgaria.

She is also enjoying being able to spend more time with her one-year-old grandson and said she will not miss the early morning alarm.

Mrs Irwin, who was also a union rep at the hospital, added: “I enjoyed my time at Bolton Hospital and while the work was challenging and very busy, it was never boring.

“Although I don’t miss the early morning alarm and the enormous workload I miss the wonderful, caring colleagues who work tirelessly to care for their patients, in increasingly difficult circumstances.

“I have made some forever friends whom I enjoy meeting up with.”