HealthNews

UHNM honours first nurse as it launches the prestigious Daisy Award

An elderly care senior nurse has become the first winner of a new international nurse and midwife award scheme launched on Monday 19th April 2021 at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognises the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care that nurses and midwives provide to their patients and their families every day and was awarded to Sandra Hughes, Ward Manager on Ward 79 at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Gwen Hatton, Associate Chief Nurse for Medicine, who nominated Sandra for the award, said: “I am honoured as Associate Chief Nurse for medicine to have such a caring and compassionate leader on one of our wards. Sandra, along with the team have captured the hearts and minds of people both nationally and internationally after bringing together Covid-19 positive couples together to spend their final hours with each other. Sandra arranged for the ward to be re-arranged so that their beds could be pushed together so the couples could hold hands and listen to their favourite music together before passing away.

“What Sandra did to enable this couple to be together in their final hours was outstanding, and even in the saddest circumstances, Sandra enables her patients to have a positive experience. The compassion she demonstrated is overwhelming and she truly deserves the recognition and accolade afforded by this award.”

Sandra Hughes said: “I am very over whelmed to receive this award and very surprised, I am absolutely amazed that somebody would think that what we do on a daily basis is worthy of such a prestigious international award. We don’t do what we do on a daily basis for praise, however this is amazing and it is really nice not only when I am recognised for my hard work, but also the team around me. We always do what we think is right and we would do it all over again tomorrow if we needed to. During the pandemic we have made sure that we are there for both the patients and their families during this difficult time.”

Michelle Rhodes, Chief Nurse at UHNM, said: “The Daisy Award is a special award that is recognised across the world for registered nurses and midwives and It is an absolute honour to present Sandra with this award today. Sandra and the team encompass our Trust values, continuously delivering exceptional care to our patients. Sandra really did go above and beyond in her role and it makes us really proud.”

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in the USA, in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) which is an auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and their families. The Daisy Award has been adopted by healthcare facilities around the world to celebrate nurses for their extraordinary care and compassion. 

Sandra, Michelle, Paul and Mark

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