Surprise celebration for nurse Ros Bratt-Wyton

It is finally time for leading Black Country nurse Ros Bratt-Wyton to put her feet up after a 38-year career which has included helping to raise millions of pounds for cancer patients.

Clinical nurse Mrs Bratt-Wyton, aged 63, is retiring after notching up almost four decades working at hospitals in Dudley.

She treated the first patient at Russells Hall Hospital when it opened almost 30 years ago.

Her greatest achievement has been helping to establish the hospital's own leukaemia and cancer department, known as the Georgina Unit, in April 1998.

Around £3.5 million has been raised by fundraisers to help the Georgina Unit provide treatment to cancer sufferers and support to their families.

Grandmother-of-five Mrs Bratt-Wyton was treated to a surprise party by her colleagues last night at the David Lloyd Centre, in Pensnett Road, Brierley Hill.

Friends and family attended as well as some of Mrs Bratt-Wyton's past patients.

"It has been amazing to see the developments in medicine to help with the treatment of patients over the years," she said.

"I've loved being able to look after my staff over the years as well."

Born in Gornal, Mrs Bratt-Wyton now lives with her husband of 45 years, retired electrician Alex, 69, in Strathern Drive, Coseley. She has two children Helen, 43 and 41-year-old Richard.

Mrs Bratt-Wyton started working as an office secretary before her sister Lesley, who was working a district nurse, persuaded her to apply for a role with the health service.

She applied to train at the former Burton Road Hospital before moving for a stint at the Guest Hospital, Dudley.

After starting at Russells Hall in the 1980s, Mrs Bratt-Wyton said she wanted the hospital to have its own dedicated cancer and leukaemia ward to help improve care.

"Patients were only treated for cancer on the general wards so something had to change," she said. Many fundraising events have been held to help pay for new equipment, for patients and their families to have holidays and even paying for younger patients to take their exams while in hospital.

Mrs Bratt-Wyton said: "It is an achievement to see what we have done in getting the centre up and running."

A highlight of her fundraising exploits came as she persuaded Dr Jack Fisher to walk through the Channel Tunnel when it first opened – raising around £40,000.

Mr Bratt-Wyton said: "She has done so much for the hospital with fundraising for the unit that I'm glad she is getting some recognition."

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Michael Evans, has chosen the leukaemia unit as one of his chosen charities this year and came along to show his support for Mrs Bratt-Wyton.

Mrs Bratt-Wyton officially retires in two weeks from her job but intends to still volunteer her time to help with fundraising.