Barbara bids farewell after 37 years at Warrington Hospital (From Warrington Guardian)

Barbara bids farewell after 37 years at Warrington Hospital

4:40pm Tuesday 8th December 2009

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STAFF and patients at Warrington Hospital have bid a fond farewell to Barbara Crollar after 37 years of service including eight and a half years spent helping women with breast cancer.

The well-known staff member has worked in the unique role of a prosthetic breast fitter caring for women who have had mastectomies.

Barbara, who has lived in Grappenhall all her life, began her career at the hospital as an auxilliary nurse where she described her role as “the branches on the tree holding the rest up.”

Over the years she has had her role changed from nurse to carer as she worked on many wards ranging from women’s surgical, to men’s surgical, and then on to Urology and Breast surgery ward.

Barbara said: “A lady I was working with at the time told me that she was putting me forward for the role of breast form fitter, I would never have dreamed of going for it myself.

“So I then undertook eighteen months of training, going from my part time to full time, and when the role came up I applied and haven’t looked back since.”

A mastectomy is a life changing operation and Barbara has always been there to offer advice and guidance and often went in early to visit patients.

Dr Graham Copeland, consultant general surgeon, paid tribute to Barbara at her retirement lunch where more than 40 colleagues came together to celebrate.

He said: “Barbara is the best prosthetic breast fitter that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

“Nothing is ever too much trouble to her and she will put herself out for everyone that she meets.

“She looks after all the needs of her patients, their individuality is key to her and she gives them 110%.”

Barbara will be joined on her retirement by her husband Tony, 65, from Lymm High School where he works as a Maintenance Manager, at the end of December. A holiday in the Maldives has been booked to celebrate.

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