UHNM Hero Award Winner: Dr Simon Ellis

UHNM’s Deputy Chief Nurse has praised the “excellent, outstanding and compassionate” care provided to her by a Consultant Neurologist at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Jane Holmes says her care was “nothing short of outstanding”, and stated she was so impressed by the compassion and kindness shown by Dr Simon Ellis that she nominated him for a UHNM Hero Award.

Jane said: “For a number of months I was suffering from what I had been told was a bout of awful vertigo, this was having a significant impact on my wellbeing and quality of life, I felt rotten and it wasn’t improving.

“When I first met Dr Ellis, he instantly told me that this is not vertigo, and he diagnosed the condition I had. He sent me for an MRI scan which confirmed his thoughts and showed a cerebral fluid (CSF) leak”.

Jane describes Dr Ellis as “beyond compassionate, caring and kind.”

She said: “He epitomises all our Trust values and as his patient, I felt so safe and so well taken care of. I trusted him completely. I learnt about the groundbreaking CSF work that Dr Ellis is doing both at UHNM but also and nationally, and feel lucky to be treated by one of the UK’s experts in this condition.”

After receiving his award from Tracy Bullock, UHNM Chief Executive, Dr Ellis said: “It’s all a team effort as always in healthcare, but this award means a lot to me. To be recognised by the Trust is very affirmative. We receive a lot of feedback from patients, and to also receive something from the Trust thanks to Jane’s kind nomination makes a lot of difference.”

Jane added: “I honestly couldn’t love my job as Deputy Chief Nurse at UHNM anymore, especially knowing I am fortunate to work with some of life’s brilliants like Dr Ellis.”