Doreen retires from Strathcarron after 21 years of service

We bid a fond farewell to Doreen, a much loved staff member of the Hospice who has retired this week.

Doreen started volunteering on our reception desk helping with the switchboard 21 years ago.

When admin staff were off sick or on maternity leave, Doreen was offered various part time bank staff admin roles to help cover, before eventually becoming part time Hospice Secretary - an integral role for the running of Strathcarron.

“Strathcarron has been a big part of my life for over 20 years. There is a special bond that is formed here. It has been really wonderful; I will miss everyone.”

Doreen said: “My first ever time coming to the Hospice, we had done a family sponsored walk and brought the funds up. I thought what a lovely place.

“When I retired I was looking for something to do and saw the hospice was looking for volunteers. I applied and worked on the reception manning the switchboard.

"After a while, when staff went off on maternity or were off sick I was asked to step in and help as bank admin staff. Eventually I ended up in my job share role as Hospice Secretary.

I" have met a lot of people over the years and have seen a lot of different changes.”

Having awareness and knowledge of the Hospice brought comfort for Doreen when sadly her husband Hamish had to be admitted, and he passed away within the care of our Strathcarron team in 2008.

Doreen added: “Hamish came in a couple of weeks before he died. The staff just took away all the worry and the pressure from us trying to look after him. We could go back to being a family again instead of learning to be nurses without any training.

"I felt comforted knowing it’s a lovely place and the staff are lovely. A weight had been lifted off our shoulders, because you knew that they cared and they knew what they were doing.

"You always hear everyone saying that, but it’s true. It attracts a certain type of special person to work here.

"I had just started in the Hospice Secretary role and Hamish died here in the July. I came back to work in the September. Strathcarron was a life saver for me, because it gave me a purpose – I knew for those two days I had a focus.”

With Doreen’s retirement, the family tie to Strathcarron will not be broken completely however.

Doreen’s daughter Lorna has taken on a variety of overseas fundraising challenges in aid of the Hospice, including most recently cycling from London to Paris. There has also been a period of intergenerational working as Eilidh, Doreen’s granddaughter, started working with our Domestic Team in March 2025 as an assistant, on our In-Patient Unit cleaning and helping serve meals.

Marjory Mackay Strathcarron Hospice Nursing Director with Lorna, Eilidh and Doreen.

Eilidh said: “When I was little I used to come to work with Gran in the Hospice in my summer holidays. When I first came in I was helping with things like raffle tickets, letters and envelopes.

“I love it here, it’s a really good place to work.

“It’s much more patient and family focussed than I expected of the role, but in a good way. When someone dies it can be hard though. I was nervous coming into it so young – I didn’t know what to expect, but everyone makes you feel like you were always just meant to be here. It’s such a pleasant place to come into, despite the underlying sadness.”

Doreen added: “Working in the In-Patient Unit is not a role everyone can do – it can be really tough sometimes and you often form connections with the people you are supporting. I’m really proud of Eilidh, she has done well.

“Over the years when have told people I work at Strathcarron they have replied saying ‘oh, I could never work there - it’s too sad’ but there isn’t a feeling of sadness here all the time – there is laughter and smiles. When people visit the Hospice and they realise what you mean by that.

“I have loved having Eilidh work here. She will pop up to my room to say hello and leaves me wee notes on my desk. It has been lovely working together.

“Strathcarron has been a big part of my life for over 20 years. There is a special bond that is formed here. It has been really wonderful; I will miss everyone.”

We will miss you Doreen!