Family of patient cared for in ICU were treated with 'utmost compassion and dignity' during the hardest time of their lives
Colleagues who work in the Intensive Care Unit at Royal Derby Hospital have been praised for treating a patient and his loved ones with 'utmost compassion and dignity' during his final days.
The team was nominated for the 'Team UHDB' Making a Difference Award by Lisa Keillor, after her husband Ian was cared for in the unit last year.
Ian had a sudden cardiac arrest the day after his 48th birthday. Lisa said that his care was exemplary right from the moment she called an ambulance until after he died and his organs were donated. Her husband and his whole family received exceptional care and empathy with every staff member from East Midlands Ambulance Service, the Emergency Department and particularly ITU going above and beyond to ensure that her husband's final days were comfortable and that his family had the chance to stay with him until the very end.
The team was presented with the 'Team UHDB' Making a Difference Award by Executive Chief Operating Officer Sharon Martin who told the team that their compassion shines through their work on a daily basis.
Sharon said: "This is a real accolade to you all - you do this every day, but always with compassion and individuality and it is so important to the family and to the patient. Thank you for all you do. You make a difference to people's lives during their darkest hours."
In her touching nomination, Lisa said the team made an effort to learn about Ian, his family and his life before he suffered a cardiac arrest, saying she 'really felt that they cared about making things personal and comfortable for him.'
Lisa also recalled how one member of the team provided her with a tiny heart that had been placed in her husband's hand so she could maintain a connection with him while she went home for some much-needed rest.
When it became clear that Ian's condition was not improving, Lisa, who works in the Emergency Department of another hospital, said the team did everything they could to support Ian and his loved ones.
She said: "On a particularly difficult day when I knew in my heart that Ian wasn’t recovering as we wanted him to, one member of staff found me a bed so I could sleep beside him one more time. It was the most touching gesture and she knew what I needed before I even asked."
Sadly, Ian's scans showed a hypoxic brain injury which meant that if he had survived he would have been severely brain-damaged. Family and friends started arriving to say their goodbyes while Lisa worked with Ian's family and the staff to 'do everything possible to make sure that his death was planned and comfortable' for them all, including making special mementoes for Ian's young niece to treasure.
Lisa said: "They washed him with his own shower gel and laid him gently on his own pillows. As a healthcare professional, I was so anxious that Ian wasn't in pain or distress as he died."
When the time finally came, Lisa described Ian's death as 'peaceful' and said the nursing team stood outside Ian's room to pay their respects.
Lisa said: "He died with me, his brother and his mum beside him, wearing his trademark stripy socks.
"During the worst days we have ever had and probably ever will have, the awfulness of the situation was tempered by the care, kindness and empathy of everyone who took care of Ian, me and his family. We can never thank them enough."
Caroline Swan, Senior Sister, said: "While this is our job and we chose to do this, some days it can be really tough and it means so much to be able to make a difference to our patients and their loved ones and to give them the care they deserve.
"It is not often what we do is recognised so it means a lot to us that Lisa took the time to thank us and that we could play a small part in helping her during the most difficult time."