Agency by William Gibson 
Healthcare assistant on the Aston Unit, Denise Robson, shares her experiences of working at Congleton War Memorial Hospital and talks about her pride at being recognised for her voluntary work with local veterans.
I have been working on the Aston Unit at Congleton War Memorial Hospital for eight years.
I specialise in dementia care; my passion, as I feel that I understand the patients and can have fun with them, and treat them how I would want to be treated.
Before moving to Aston Unit, I did an array of things. I left school and worked in a clothing factory, and when it shut down I worked at Airbags in Congleton, doing some sewing. At this time, my family were still quite young, so I felt it wasn’t fair that I wasn’t giving them what they needed – so I went to be a dinner lady, which I absolutely loved.
After that, I was on the lookout for a new challenge, and found it when I walked into a nursing home and felt as though I was immediately thrown in at the deep end, immersing me in the world of care.
One of the nurses I met in this role was offered a position at another organisation and asked me if I would go with her. This led me to a new role specialising in dementia, going to different nursing homes where I would work on the floor, while my colleague would advise the management team and support them to prepare for Care Quality Commission visits.
During this time, I undertook lots of training including dementia care mapping at the University of Bradford, and a teaching course in dementia.
When my colleague left her job, it didn’t feel the same and I didn’t feel I had the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge. This then led me to a job at the War Memorial.
It has been a bit of a whirlwind ever since. It was a big change moving into a hospital setting, but I love learning and if I get the chance to do further learning, I jump at the opportunity.
For me, it’s about getting a good rapport with the patients and ensuring they don’t have a bad experience in hospital. If I can give them a good experience, be nice to them and treat them well, then they can go away knowing how nice it is at the hospital.
It’s a lovely environment and we are one big happy family. If you have anything going on then you get messages checking in on how you are and you don’t feel like you are on your own. If you ever need to talk to someone then the ward manager’s door is always open.
Congleton has always been a great town and you can really tell the people here love and appreciate the hospital – it’s their hospital and they really value it.
I’d like to thank the ward manager, Jo for giving me the chance to work here. It’s been a different way of life for me but it’s a lovely place to work.
Outside of work, I was proud to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022 for my volunteering at the Tri-Services Veteran Support Centre in Stoke-on-Trent.
Although I am not from an armed forces background, I have been volunteering there for more than seven years after my son became involved with them while he was at university.
One day he came home and asked me if I could make some cakes to help sell at a fundraising event, to raise money to purchase the building they use to support veterans.
After making five cakes, they asked if I wanted to continue helping them and I said I didn’t mind helping for free until they purchased the building.
They have recently just purchased the building but I shall still continue making the cakes for them for nothing.
Through the pandemic, when I wasn’t working, I also helped them deliver food packages and we gave out around 1,500 meals to the public.
Sitting and listening to the stories from some of the veterans really opens your eyes. I love history so listening to them is amazing.
