Security officer is 'credit' to UHDB after helping distressed patient
A female security officer who comforted a distressed patient has been hailed a “true credit” to UHDB and has won a Making a Difference Award after being nominated by the patient’s mum.
Kayleigh Mellor was still training at Royal Derby Hospital when she encountered a young patient who was distressed. She took the time to comfort the patient and persuaded her to get the treatment she needed, much to the relief of the young girl’s mum, who nominated Kayleigh for the Patient Hero Award.
The patient’s mum submitted the following nomination in which she thanked Kayleigh “from the bottom of their hearts.”
The nomination said: “My daughter was admitted with mental health [problems], and ran off the ward, and had no intention of returning. Nobody could get through to her, not even me.
“Kayleigh found my daughter sat with me, I had been trying to persuade her to go back for a while, to no avail. Kayleigh took the time to sit and talk to my daughter, walked her back to her room, and managed to get her to take her medication, and have something to eat.
“She even wrote her a positive quote which she still reads to this day which helps her more than Kayleigh probably realises.”
She said that the experience has had a lasting impact on her daughter’s “frame of mind and outlook on life.”
She said: “I just cannot thank or credit her enough, it's been years and I feel like I have my daughter back, all from one conversation with your security officer.
“She even went above and beyond and bought her some lunch which she and I were so grateful for.
“Please thank her from the bottom of our hearts. She is a true credit to UHDB.
“Thank you for everything your trust and staff do."
Kayleigh said she was shocked to receive the award but was glad to have made a difference to our patients.
She said: “I really don’t know what to say. I was so shocked to find out someone had nominated me but I just feel glad that I have made a difference which is why I wanted to do this job in the first place.
“I have a history with mental health and so I know how important it is just to give people the time of day and listen to what they need.
“I wanted to help in any way I could.
“It’s nice to know that she has gone home feeling better and that is more than enough for me.”
On hand to present Kayleigh with the Patient Hero award was Duncan Bedford, Executive Managing Director at Queen’s Hospital Burton and Dr Kathy McLean OBE, Chair, who said Kayleigh really demonstrated the Trust’s values of compassion and is a “shining example” of the staff we have here at UHDB.
Duncan said: “It is really well deserved.
“This is a shining example of what we are like as a trust and I am so impressed. The fact you took the time and sat with her, her mum couldn’t say enough good things about you. It is absolutely fantastic.
“You have obviously got heaps of ability and you should be extremely proud of yourself.
“Thank you very much on behalf of the Trust.”
Dr Kathy McLean added: “You have been nominated by a member of the public who is a mother to a patient and I think those, where family nominate, are the really special ones.
“It sounds as though you really went the extra mile to make their experience memorable in a good way and they have recognised you in a way that you deserve to be recognised.”