A KIND carer who has devoted her life to helping others has been praised by her sister for her work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Elizabeth Stirratt, 56, works as a care home assistant for North Ayrshire Council and has been looking after people in Largs in a variety of roles since she left school.

Her sister Ann Nicoll, 64, says Elizabeth cares more about her patients than she does for herself and has praised her for the sterling work she does around the town.

Ann said: “She constantly goes above and beyond.

“She goes to shops, takes people out, does all their washing for them, all off her own back for the people she cares for and she never asks for any recognition or thanks.

“I do feel as though she deserves it."

Despite the risks associated with working in the care sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ann says her sister’s focus has always been on getting on with her job.

She said: “She’s been working throughout lockdown.

“I don’t think she has thought much about the virus. The people she cares for are her priority and she’s very devoted to her work.

“She’s just an extremely caring person and she thinks more of the people she looks after than she does of herself.

“She doesn’t have a car so she has to walk to everyone she cares for and she does it in all weathers.”

Ann says that Elizabeth, who worked in Brooksby House Hospital until 2005, is very popular around the town.

She said: “Any time I was with her prior to lockdown, everybody would say hello.

“I’ve only lived in Largs for nine months, but it is very clear to see that she is very well thought of here."

Elizabeth says that helping people is all she has ever done - and that anything she can do to make a positive difference in people’s lives is worth it.

She said: “I like caring for people and just generally helping others, that’s all I have really known.

“I've got my protective equipment and people like to see a happy face coming to see them - and I hope I can provide that.

“I go and get things for people, it might just be a card or a book of stamps, I’m not asked to do it as part of my job but I would do it for anyone.”

Although her sister is insistent on praising her work, Elizabeth insists she does not want any recognition and just looks to help others.

She said: “To be honest I was horrified when I found out she wanted to tell my story because caring for people is what I’ve always done and that’s just me.

“A lot of people deserve recognition, especially carers and I certainly don’t think I’m anything special.

“The pandemic has been difficult, but people always come first in my eyes."