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Organ donation nurse is supporting families

A specialist organ donation nurse is helping to comfort and support bereaved families. Leeanne Clay is based in the critical care unit at Royal Stoke and has the challenging role of discussing patient wishes with families losing a loved one. Leeanne not only acts to help adult members of the family, but is often called upon to support children who are losing a sibling or parent, often in tragic circumstances.

Rebecca Jennings, Advanced Critical Care Practitioner, said: "Conversations like this are difficult with adults but can be exceptionally emotive with children. Leeanne always manages to communicate on a level that empowers the children involved and helps them to process such terrible information. They are helped to ask questions and Leeanne explains the process of death in the best possible way by drawing on her previous experience as a children's specialist nurse. On multiple occasions we have witnessed her go above and beyond the call of duty, staying over her shift and being contactable with advice for myself and the wider team. People like Leeanne are really special."

Leeanne has been given the Employee of the Month award in recognition of the difference she makes to children and their families.

Leeanne said: "I am so thrilled to receive this award, but I wouldn't be able to do my job without the support of the team around me - I am just one small cog and everything we do really is a team effort.  My work can be extremely tough but it is also so lovely to help families see a bit of colour in very dark times."

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