Friends, family and colleagues gathered to pay a fond farewell to treatment room co-ordinator Elaine Alexander who retired in January after 37 years’ service.

Elaine, who was based at Blantyre Health Centre, was part of the south-east unit which covered Douglas Street, Blantyre, Larkhall, Carluke, Lanark, Forth, Carnwath and Carstairs health centres as well as the peripatetic phlebotomy service.

Elained joined the NHS in 1980 when she trained to become a nurse at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow.

On qualifying, Elaine joined NHS Lanarkshire and worked in various health centres during her career including Motherwell, Viewpark and Larkhall before joining the south-east unit in May 2012 where she remained until her retirement.

Elaine lives in Cambusnethan, Wishaw with her husband Robert and has three children Stewart, Victoria and Rebecca and a granddaughter Ayleigh-Blue (4).

In her spare time, Elaine enjoys walking her three dogs Ola, Miguel and Tiasa and holidaying to Lanzarote.  Elaine plans to buy a property there following her husband’s retirement.

Linzi Semple, treatment room nurse, said: “On behalf of myself and all our colleagues across the south-east unit, we would like to wish Elaine nothing but the very best in her retirement. She is a truly kind, compassionate and supportive manager who will be sorely missed by each and every one of us”.