“Best of the NHS”: Royal Stoke nurse of 43 years praises colleagues for care given to late mum
A nurse of 43 years has praised her University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) colleagues for the “exemplary care, kindness and compassion” shown to her late mum.
Lillian Capper was admitted to Ward 123 at the Royal Stoke University Hospital following a fall where she sadly passed away earlier this year aged 87.
Janet Cooke, a quality and safety nurse manager at UHNM describes staff on the general medical ward as the “best of the NHS” who cared for Lillian during her final days.
Janet said: “I have worked as a nurse at UHNM for 43 years and have witnessed the best of times and equally many difficult times. I have always been very proud to be a nurse within the NHS and throughout my long and varied career, no matter what role I was in, my number one priority has always been the delivery of kind and compassionate patient care.
“Unexpectedly in March of this year I experienced care delivery from a different perspective when my 87-year-old mum Lillian required a visit to UHNM following a small fall resulting in a bang on the head.
“Due to her medical requirements, she subsequently required an admission to Ward 123 under the care of sister Sandra Hughes and her wonderful team.
“The care, kindness and compassion mum and our family experienced during her stay was exemplary. Each member of the team went out of their way to ensure that mum’s and all our family’s needs were met, frequently anticipating them before we knew what we wanted. Following a challenging period, and despite the team’s utmost efforts, the decision was made in collaboration with the palliative care team to provide mum with end-of-life care."
“Over the next four days we witnessed the NHS at its very best. The kindness and compassion shown by the nursing and medical teams were remarkable. Despite the daily challenges they face, they lived out the true values of UHNM with unwavering dedication. We also saw how the leadership of sister Hughes shaped the ethos of the ward and inspired such a high standard of care.”
Following a nomination by Janet, Sandra and the team were presented with a UHNM Hero Award, which celebrates staff who provide exceptional care and demonstrate outstanding dedication to patients, their families, and the Trust’s values by Dr Simon Constable, chief executive.
Dr Constable said: “I was delighted to present Sandra and her team with the UHNM Hero award. While we often work in difficult and emotionally demanding circumstances, the care we give is never forgotten, and acts of compassion, big or small, can make an immeasurable difference to patients and their families.”
Janet was joined by daughter Laura Yates for the presentation, herself a cardiac physiologist at UHNM.
Janet said: “Every member of the team is truly deserving, as their kindness, compassion, and support during an incredibly difficult and emotional time helped us navigate the unexpected loss of our much-loved mum and grandma with greater comfort and ease."
Sister Sandra Hughes said: “To receive recognition like this for kindness and compassion means the world to us. Patients are our main focus and it’s really important for our team that we see that our good work, the effort and time we put in is valued. The team are amazing. We work sometimes under very challenging and difficult situatuons and everybody just gets on and works and do what we can for our patients, and I can’t ask for more than that.”
Lee-Ann Boardman, matron for older adults at UHNM added: “I’m extremely proud of Sandra and her colleagues, this is testament to her leadership of the ward and is very well deserved.”