A NURSE at St Catherine's Hospice, VALERIE HAILER will be making sure patients have as enjoyable a Christmas as possible.

Staff at the Southgate hospice take it in turns to work on Christmas Day.

Last year she was visiting her family in Australia so is happily taking her turn this time round.

The grandmother of four said: "Working Christmas Day is not a hardship. We only have the sickest patients in that really need our care and the rest we hope can go home for some of the day.

"It's our aim to make the day as nice as possible for everyone. All their families can come in and share it with them.

"We give them all breakfasts and get them washed and dressed if they want to.

"They all have a little gift from Santa left by their beds. Then their families start coming.

"We make sure there is a nice atmosphere."

This year, her colleague Lyn Denyer has asked her own musical children to come in and perform for the patients on Christmas Day before they are treated to a traditional roast dinner.

"Christmas Day is always going to be hard for the patients and families as it is possibly their last," Valerie added. "It can be quite emotional for relatives and us as well."

In the afternoon a drinks trolley goes round the wards, so if patients feel up to it they can have an alcoholic tipple.

Valerie, 65, said: "My husband doesn't mind me working because he always used to work when he was a fireman."

Her colleague, mum-of-two DEBORAH MCLAREN-ROWE, 48, is also working the Christmas Day shift.

The nursing assistant said it is important that the hospice gets the balance right between celebrating and being considerate.

"It's an honour to work here on Christmas Day and to look after the patients," she said. "It's lovely to come to work and look after people who need it."

CRAWLEY firefighter MARK BURTON will be working the Christmas morning and evening shifts this year.

He starts at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve, working all the way through to 8.30am, before heading back to work at 5.30pm on Christmas Day.

"Between those times I'll go home and spend the day with my wife Caroline and three-year-old son, Nicholas," he said.

"Hopefully he will wait to open his presents until I get home. We've got him a fire engine – he wants to be like his dad when he's older."

Caroline is used to Mark's work pattern and does some less-than-ideal hours herself as a maternity nurse.

Mark, who lives in Broadfield, added: "When back at the station we stand down at about 9pm for some dinner, probably some cheese and crackers.

"We'll probably play some board games in the evening so it's like a proper Christmas. We are like an extended family."

CRAWLEY police officer MARK ROBINSON is preparing to work his first-ever Christmas Day shift this year.

The 24-year-old PC, who has been with Sussex Police almost five years, said: "I am working from 6pm on Christmas Day until 2am on Boxing Day.

"I'm hoping I can make some turkey sandwiches before work for my team with the leftovers from lunch.

"My family are supportive. Because I don't start until 6pm, I will be able to have a large Christmas dinner – but it will have to be accompanied by a water."