A POPULAR hospital worker, whose mum and daughter worked in the same profession, has died suddenly at the age of 55.

Judith Thomas was a phlebotomist, a blood taker, at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and also taught others how to take samples.

She followed in the footsteps of her mother, Maisie Howell, who was a phlebotomist for 20 years and one of her children, Ceri Milton, also took up the same career.

Mrs Thomas, who leaves a husband Robert and lived in the Gaer, was a mother-of-three and grandmother of five. She worked at the Royal Gwent for nearly 20 years.

Her daughter, Sarah Sutcliffe, said Mrs Thomas taught doctors and nurses during her long career. "She was so popular."

She explained her mum, who was on sick leave from her job because of liver condition, developed septacaemia which she was unable to fight off.

The Argus carried a story about the three generations of phlebotomists in 2005 and also referred to them again more recently as part of another story.

Mrs Thomas was in hospital but her family took her a copy of the newspaper for her to see. "She was really pleased," said Mrs Sutcliffe.

Mrs Thomas's colleagues at the Royal Gwent paid their own tribute to her.

"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to a very dear friend and colleague. Judith worked as a phlebotomy tutor for many years and will be greatly missed by all of us, her friends and patients."

Mrs Thomas's funeral is taking place next Wednesday at 2.30pm in St Woolos Cathedral - not far from the hospital where she made such an important contribution.