Maria Gregory-Haines

Recently retired disability lead nurse Gregory-Haines has been nominated for Angel of the Year. 

Mrs Gregory-Haines worked in various roles at Community Health and Social Care for nearly 35 years, starting as a general nurse before moving into a managerial role, then 14 years ago, landing on the roles of lead disability nurse and complex care coordinator, focusing on physical disability and progressive neurological conditions. 

'The most rewarding part of being a disability nurse is helping people and building up a rapport with the patients,' she said. Her role involves supporting family members as well as the patients themselves. 

'She has quietly changed lives simply by caring enough to stand beside people when they needed someone most,' said nominator Chantelle Kerry. 'Maria has been my disability epilepsy nurse for over ten years, and I honestly don’t know where I’d be without her.

'Maria never made me feel like a number or a case. She always saw the person behind the illness,' said Ms Kerry. 'Maria has been the constant that has held everything together.

'She has guided me through countless seizures, medication changes, referrals, appointments, benefits, forms, and difficult decisions with patience, kindness, and compassion. As Maria retires, I want people to know that the difference she has made cannot be measured by appointments or paperwork.'

Mrs Gregory-Haines' nomination has been seconded by Ms Kerr's medical alert dog, Dougal.