A KIND volunteer who retired as a nurse is back on a hospital ward - pampering patients with makeovers during their stays.

Sheila Wilson, who is from Greenock, was previously a hairdresser and had worked in salons before she decided to change career paths and get into nursing.

Now retired, she is volunteering each week at the Larkfield Unit, which provides care to the elderly.

Sheila is putting her skills to good use to help patients relax and feel special.

She said: “I used to be a nurse, then I was a midwife and I then worked in a number of care homes during my career.

"I love the elderly patients, I just think they are amazing, so I always enjoy my volunteering.

“Before I was a nurse, I worked in salons, so I have been able to bring those skills with me to do a bit of hairdressing, putting in rollers, doing their nails and giving hand and feet massages.

"I really enjoy the patient interaction, I hear some patients ask for me when I’m not in volunteering, so I hope they are pleased to see me and enjoy their makeovers too.

“I don’t usually actually cut anyone’s hair, but we had a family ask if I would cut their mother’s hair ahead of her 96th birthday, which was really nice.”

Being from the area, Sheila knows how close the Inverclyde community is and has experienced the caring culture of the IRH first hand.

She worked at the hospital when training to become a nurse and her daughter Pamela is also currently a nurse there.

Sheila said: “I feel like I have come full circle at the IRH now, I did my training here when I was becoming a nurse and my daughter also works at the Larkfield Unit, so that’s nice to be working in the same place.

“It was actually Pamela who suggested I start volunteering. I love it, I wanted to get back into a setting like this and give something back while I was doing it.”

Harry Balch, volunteer service manager at NHS GGC, said: “All patients at the IRH and the team of staff absolutely love Sheila, who has become such an important part of the Larkfield Unit community.

“She continues to go above and beyond for patients, bringing so much joy to those who are spending time in hospital through her wonderful makeovers.

"We cannot thank her enough for the amazing job she is doing.”