Cork hospital caterer Martina Murphy: 'Good outcomes are like winning the Lotto'

“I’ve been there now for more than 40 years and I love it. It was great when I was rearing my family because I was off every weekend.

“I worked on St Patrick’s surgical ward initially, but I’ve been on St Bernadette’s ward for the past 24 years, where oncology and haematology patients come for treatment. Because I’ve been on the same ward for so long, I get to know patients and you become friends with them. We chat away.

“I start work at 8.30am. Because I live in Kilcully and the traffic is always murder in Blackpool, I have to leave the house around 7.30am. When I arrive at work, it’s to the lovely aroma of fresh scones, made by Vicky Curtis, who is a beautiful baker. She makes fresh scones every morning – fruit, brown, plain, cherry, you name it. She makes healthy bread too.

“We’re all part of a team on the ward: doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, clerical staff, caterers. Some of the patients can be pretty sick and have lost a lot of weight and the medical staff ask us to keep an eye on them and to watch what they are eating. If they aren’t eating, we would flag it with the staff.

“All of the food we serve is freshly cooked. Our chefs make homemade soup every day and they always use fresh meat and veg for the dinners. We take the orders from patients and we always try to accommodate their requests. We make sure to keep them in fluids too. And there’s always requests for tea and toast.

“The thing I enjoy most about my job is meeting so many people. I see a lot of good outcomes. When you’ve got to know the patient and they are given the all-clear, it’s like winning the Lotto, especially if they are young or have a young family.

“There are sad times too, and seeing what people go through makes you appreciate life even more.

“I’m 63 now and nearing retirement. With five granddaughters, I’ll have plenty to keep me going.”

Spot the symptoms 

• Changes in bowel habits — diarrhoea, runny bowel movements, constipation, needing to poo more or less often than usual.
• Blood in your poo, which may look red or black.
• Abdominal issues — cramps, general abdominal pain, bloating that doesn’t go away.
• Weight loss when you’re not trying to lose weight.
• Tiredness and lack of energy when you’ve had enough rest.
• Any unusual change you know isn’t right for you.
• If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your GP.

• For information on bowel cancer screening and using home test kits, click here.