A RETIRED nurse who spent decades working in the NHS has returned to the fold to help her former colleagues tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Donna Booton said she “couldn’t sit at home doing nothing” while the outbreak continues to sweep through the country.

The former nurse spent more than 38 years in the NHS, first working as a nurse and then holding a variety of senior roles before becoming head of quality improvement at Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.

She has now returned to the wards as a site matron for Colchester Hospital, where she is supporting colleagues, offering advice and reassurance.

Donna is also helping to manage beds while ensuring patients are being cared for by the right specialists.

“A lot of friends still work at the hospital, so I was well aware that demand was beginning to increase,” said Donna.

“I immediately knew that I should put my experience to good use and offer to help.

“Once you are a nurse, it gets inside you.

“I couldn’t just sit at home and do nothing knowing that my colleagues would be up against it.

“I had absolutely no reservations at all about going back.”

During Donna’s early career, she trained at a number of hospitals which came under the umbrella of the Colchester hospital trust including Essex County, Black Notley, Severalls and St Mary’s hospitals as well as Turner Village.

After qualifying in 1985, she progressed through the ranks to become a sister ten years later.

She has fond memories of her ten years as a matron at the now-closed Essex County Hospital.

She even renewed her vows with her husband, Peter, in the hospital’s chapel to mark their 25th wedding anniversary.

“It has been lovely returning to work and everyone has been really welcoming,” she said.

“In other ways it has been quite surreal – because there are no visitors at the moment, the corridors are very quiet and you can walk through the hospital and not see anyone else at all.

“I am happy to stay at the hospital for as long as I’m needed and just want to feel as if I’m helping.”