Williton seamstress Helen McDermaid celebrates the big 80!

The NHS has hundreds of different roles, from doctors and nurses, to cleaners and administration colleagues…

But did you know that we also have a seamstress at the trust? And she recently celebrated her 80th birthday!

Meet Helen McDermaid, who’s been working in the seamstress role, mending uniform and other materials at Williton Hospital since 1993.

Before her time at the hospital, Helen was a short-hand typist, a trade that she learned at college, but when the seamstress job came up in 1993, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I knew how to sew, so I applied for the job and got it,” she says. “It has only ever been nine hours a week, so I tend to work over three days, but I take such pride in my sewing and am so pleased when I can see how happy colleagues and patients are with my handiwork.

“During my early years at the hospital I wanted to up my hours a bit and I saw a cleaning job on the wards advertised, but the management at the time told me to hang on a little bit as something would be coming up that’s more suited to my skills.

“Six months later the hospital introduced ward clerks, which was right up my street, and I successfully got the job. I stayed in the ward clerk role for 16 years, while also continuing in my seamstress role at the same time.

“The main part of my seamstress role includes repairing items of clothing that have been donated to the hospital by colleagues or others for patients who come in without any spare clothes, especially as most are elderly.

“I then mark them with the Williton label on, and they’re available to use. I also alter colleague uniforms too, and as I’m the only seamstress in the trust, I’m often sent clothes from the community hospitals all over Somerset!

“On the rare occasions that I haven’t got any sewing to do then I’ll do other tasks, and in fact on the day of this interview I was repairing curtains for the new chemotherapy treatment area of the hospital.”

Helen adds that she absolutely loves her job and finds colleagues in the hospital wonderful to work with.

“Although I work on my own, I’m still in our wider facilities team, which comes under our housekeeper, Margaret, and facilities team leader Gill, and if they have any parties then I’m always invited!

“The social side of working here is something I really love, as well as the company, and only living five minutes down the road in Watchet is handy too.

“I really love working for the NHS, and colleagues at Williton Hospital have treated me so well over the years. Touch wood, I’m very rarely off sick, and if I need to change my hours they’re really accommodating.

“I recently turned 80 years old, and the hospital team surprised me with a little party and cake, and in August we had a grand celebration at home with our family as my husband also turned the big 8-0 too!”

Sharon Stone, ward sister on Meadow ward at Williton Hospital, adds: “Helen's work is well needed as it makes such a difference to our patients to get dressed and ready for the day, encouraging mobility and helping to keep their independence.

“We ask loved ones to bring in clean clothes so they can get dressed and sit out of bed while they recover, well fitting slippers or shoes to reduce the chance of any falls, and make sure any valuables are taken home to keep them safe.”

Thank you for everything you do, Helen, and we’re glad you had such a wonderful 80th birthday!

Here's a little video clip of Helen at work: