A pillar of the community has retired after spending 39 years working for the NHS.
Moira Laird is well-known among Rutherglen residents for her outstanding work at the town’s maternity centre, but after a distinguished career, she’s looking forward to enjoying a well-deserved retirement.
The 56-year-old began her career at Rutherglen Maternity Hospital and after its closure, moved to The Princess Royal in Glasgow, where she worked for many years. Moira then moved to Rutherglen Maternity Care Centre.
She told Lanarkshire Live: “I’ve devoted most of my life to the NHS. I was 16 when I started working there in 1983.
“I wanted to work in nursing when I was younger, but I got an injury and so the next best thing was to go into medical records.
“I started as a clerical officer and went on to be a supervisor and when places broke off into certain areas and Lanarkshire took over, I went to Rutherglen and worked as a health care support worker and helped with the admin.”
The maternity centre, which is based in Rutherglen Health Centre offers community-based services to Rutherglen and Cambuslang residents, offering antenatal clinics, visits for mum and baby, as well as postnatal checks.
Moira added: “I’ve made so many lifelong friends during my time with the different teams I’ve worked with.
“The girls had a fabulous day out for me. We had an amazing time, they all looked after me well and I will really miss them all. They were a great team. I’ll miss the craziness at lunchtime and the laughter.
“I loved getting a cuddle from their babies and working with the parents. I’ve seen friends become grandparents and great-grandparents.
“The parents brought some of the kids to see us on their first day of school.
“There’s a little boy who had congenital heart defects and he came to visit me. He’s in his third year at high school now, so that was great.
“I even went on holiday to Majorca a few years ago and someone recognised me from the maternity centre.
“I keep getting messages from people asking about me.
“I’m enjoying retirement now, I don’t have to get up at 6am anymore and I can go on holiday and help my son with his business.”
NHS Lanarkshire chief midwife Cheryl Clark added: “Moira has been a fantastic servant in all her years working in the maternity unit at Rutherglen Health Centre.
“Everyone in the team will miss her and wish her all the best in her retirement.”
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