EXCLUSIVE: Cathy Shipton has revealed she is passionate about ‘witchy’ alternative medicine as she discusses leaving Casualty after 33 years

Her moving portrayal of Casualty’s nurse Duffy’s battle with dementia has touched millions, but actress Cathy Shipton may have done too good a job.

Cathy, who bows out this week after 33 years playing Lisa Duffin in Casualty, was approached at a telly event by an organiser, who assumed she really had dementia.

The 62-year-old recalls: “I was at the National Television Awards last year and got split up from our group.

“When was looking for my lot, one of the organisers came up and I think they thought “dementia!” because she said in a sympathetic voice: “Are you OK? Have you lost your friends?’

Cathy Shipton says she played dementia so well, people think she has it in real life (Image: Alistair Heap)

“I felt like saying ‘it’s a character! I can see my friends at the bar!’ so I do have to go out of my way to say to people it’s a character and not me!”

Cathy, in the pilot episode in 1986, will still be a healer when she leaves the medical drama, but in real life.

She is a big fan of homeopathy and complimentary medicine and is such a dab hand at dishing out advice she jokingly calls herself Witchy-Poo.

Charlie Fairhead, played by Derek Thompson, and Cathy Shipton as Lisa Duffin in Casualty (Image: BBC)
She says: “I had a total hip replacement and went through it with a whole series of remedies and they were astonished at my recovery. I was on stage within six weeks.

“I took Arnica for internal and external bruising – you take it pre and post-surgery – and I have a homeopath who prescribes. She’s also an orthodox GP.

When my mum was 89, someone fell on her and crushed her pelvis. The doctors wouldn’t operate because of her age, so my homeopath suggested Arnica and Symphytum, which is actually Comfrey.

Lisa Duffin finds out she has vascular dementia
Comfrey was used in the Battle of Agincourt on broken bones. You make a poultice of it – it’s called the bone knitter. Mum was walking within two weeks.

“I remember when my daughter was a baby, her nappy rash disappeared overnight with Chamomile.

“I prefer the phrase complimentary medicine, rather than alternative medicine, as it compliments orthodox medicine.

“I’ve had consultants tell me they have patients who won’t go through surgery unless they can use complimentary medicines. One said to me: ‘I have to say it seemed like their recovery was markedly quicker’.”

Duffy with Bill played by Clive Wood (Image: BBC)