A DAY hospital has welcomed its new matron.

Lorraine Roberts took charge of Ernest Gardiner Day Hospital in Letchworth GC on Monday after four years as a staff nurse.

The Letchworth GC resident, who has been a nurse for 27 years, will head up the charity-funded facility which provides free healthcare for those in the town.

She said: “Having worked here as a staff nurse for four years, it’s been a pleasure to help the varying needs of our patients. My aspiration is to continue the excellent, unique work of the day hospital since it opened 28 years ago, developing and adapting to the healthcare needs of the people of Letchworth.”

The hospital in Pearsall Close cares for more than 5,000 patients a year, taking referrals from general and healthcare practitioners or hospital consultants.

Its running costs are funded by Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and the Ernest Gardiner Day Hospital League of Friends raise funds for new or replacement equipment.