Carry on district nursing… even after win
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Carry on district nursing… even after win

A district nurse who won £5.1 million on the National Lottery has vowed to carry on nursing.

Nursing Standard. 36, 9, 6-6. doi: 10.7748/ns.36.9.6.s2

Published: 01 September 2021

Louise Drake and her husband Paul (pictured, right) from West Lothian, have taken home £5,162,779 – but insist the win won’t change them.

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Picture credit: Paul Chappells

Speaking of nursing through the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Drake told STV News: ‘It’s been very, very hard and our work isn’t something that can be postponed.

‘We are dealing with people in their own homes who often need daily visits and people who need end of life care. So you have no option but to get on all your personal protective equipment and go and do it. Winning the lottery has had an effect, but I won’t stop working.’

Mr Drake realised the couple had hit the jackpot when he checked his numbers before leaving for a shift at his supermarket production operator job.

He said: ‘It was about 4:30am and I was just getting into the car when I had this niggling feeling. I checked my ticket and just sat there in shock.

‘I burst into tears, ran back into the house screaming and woke Louise. We couldn’t believe it. Our friends, family and colleagues are over the moon for us.’

The couple plan to pay off their mortgage and take their sons on holiday.

rcni.com/lotto-winner-nurse

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