A NURSE who has worked for 27 years caring for patients in Hereford hospitals is angry over the lack of appreciation by the NHS for people in her profession.

Staff nurse Sheila Chandler retired after more than a quarter of a century in the job and received the 'magnificent gift' of £58 from Hereford Hospitals Trust.

Later she had a letter from the trust saying her salary had been overpaid by £154.75 and faces legal action because she has not returned it.

Mrs Chandler, from Kingstone, says she is probably owed thousands by the NHS for countless hours of unpaid overtime.

"If someone collapsed just before the end of your shift you did not walk away, you dealt with it and did not get paid extra," she said.

A Trust spokeswoman said retiring nurses received a payment laid down by national NHS rules, based on years worked. In Mrs Candler's case it was £58 for 27 years.

The overpayment happened because the ward in which she worked had only given two weeks notice to the finance department that she was leaving. "We cannot be seen to be treating her differently, we have to be fair to every member," said the spokeswoman.

But Mrs Chandler is not appeased. She said colleagues were outraged at the way she had been treated and she was sure many nurses had experienced a similar lack of appreciation.

She had thought to ignore the demand but the threat of legal action meant she would pay up.

"I want to finish with this hassle and I can relax and enjoy my retirement. I will pay it when it suits me, and that will be August 20," she said.

And she wondered how much of a golden handshake some members of the senior management of the Trust would receive.