A THOROUGHLY Modern Matron is retiring next month after nearly ten years of service.

Karen Dyson, took up the post when Richardson Community Hospital in Barnard Castle, County Durham, opened in 2007 and has had a career spanning more than 30 years.

She trained at St James School of Health, Leeds, where she worked until 2002, when she moved to Leeds General Infirmary.

In 2005 she moved to Barningham and began work at the Richardson as a Senior Sister, before becoming Modern Matron.

At a reception in her honour, organised by the Friends of Richardson Hospital, Mrs Dyson said: “There’s not a Hospital like it in the Trust. No-one else has the top quality equipment that we have here – hoists throughout and luxuries like free television and bedside phones.”

At the reception, also attended by the Deputy Mayor of Barnard Castle, Sandra Moorhouse, and Marie Yarker, Chairman of the Friends of Richardson Hospital, said Mrs Dyson would be greatly missed.

Mrs Dyson now has plans to spend more time with family in her retirement.

She and husband, Trevor, plan to move to The Wirral to be near daughter Rachel and her husband Jack.

Karen’s post at the Richardson Community Hospital is not being directly replaced.

Ward Managers will be in day-to-day charge of the Hospital whilst overall management will be in the hands of a Matron based at Bishop Auckland.