Most people in Stockport spend Christmas Day with family and friends, but at Stepping Hill Hospital over 700 staff will be busy looking after patients. 

And it’s not just doctors and nurses. Ann Williams, 66, from Hazel Grove is a domestic assistant who will be working on Ward E2 on the festive day. 

First thing in the morning, Ann will collect patients water jugs, before getting on with the task of cleaning surfaces to keep them germ free. 

In fact, Ann has worked every other Christmas Day at Stepping Hill Hospital for an incredible 26 years.

Ann said, “I’ve always been happy to work in hospital over Christmas. It’s an important part of a caring job, especially being there for those patients who don’t have anyone else. We try and make things special for them.”   

The ward puts on music for its mostly elderly patients and hands out Christmas gifts, and Ann goes the extra mile in making her own mince pies for the patients. 

Ann will then go home to join her son and his wife for her own Christmas dinner in the late afternoon. “I’ll be making the dinner then so I’ll have been busy all day!" Ann said. "But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m lucky to have family around me, and I’m very proud that we’re able to care for those who don’t.”