Staff accolades

The daughter of a patient cared for at Royal Derby Hospital returned to the site to pay tribute to the compassion shown by colleagues on Ward 203 and within our Dementia teams - after their sheer determination and hard work to reunite her with her husband at their home while receiving palliative care.

The patient, named Mo, was diagnosed with hearing loss and vascular dementia and was admitted to A&E following a fall that required surgery. During her recovery from surgery, she struggled with communication and eating, prompting a referral to the Dementia Team for additional support. 

Sadly, it was concluded that due to her deteriorating condition, palliative care was required. Mo's daughter, named Jo Nicholls, was now faced with an extremely difficult situation with both her parents on palliative care, and in different places.

Jo explained these circumstances to the nursing teams caring for her mother and that she would not be able to visit her mother in hospital as a result. Following this, thanks to the combined efforts and hard work of Ward 203 and Dementia colleagues involved in her care, Mo was able to receive the care she needed at home - reunited with her husband.

In a heartfelt letter sent to UHDB, Jo wrote to express her gratitude for the outstanding care and compassion that the teams demonstrated in bringing her parents together in their final days - which led to her making a surprise return visit to the colleagues involved in the care of her mother, during which they were recognised for their actions through a Patient Hero Making a Difference Award.

The award was presented within Ward 203 by UHDB Executive Chief People Officer, Amanda Rawlings, alongside Patient and Public Engagement Lead, Judith Payne, who received Jo’s initial letter.

During an emotional visit to the ward, Jo said she was “overwhelmed” to express her gratitude in person to the teams who made it possible for her mother and father to be together in their home during such a crucial time. 

She continued: "I just want to say a big thank you to everybody that looked after my mum and got her back home so quickly. The care my mum received here was outstanding, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. 

“You all deserve this award, and I'm so pleased to be here to watch you be presented with it."

Ward 203 at Royal Derby Hospital is a trauma and orthopaedics ward with a specialty in spinal care. The dedicated team on the ward is highly skilled in managing complex cases, such as those involving falls and spinal injuries, ensuring that patients receive the best possible treatment during their recovery. Following her fall and subsequent surgery, Jo's mother was admitted to Ward 203, where the team worked diligently to address her immediate needs and support her throughout her hospital stay.

The Dementia Team collaborated closely with the staff on Ward 203 to provide tailored care for Jo’s mother, after a they made a referral to the team regarding her communication challenges and vascular dementia. The team conduct personalised assessments and use the 'Getting to Know Me’ form to learn more about patients and their preferences which helped Mo receive the compassionate and individualised care she needed.

Despite being unable to visit her mother in the hospital, Jo still felt supported by these #TeamUHDB colleagues who were caring for her mother. As soon as she contacted the ward to explain the situation, Jo said the team were compassionate, reassuring and their communication was “fantastic” while they explored how her mother could be alongside her father while she safely received care at home.

“They really helped at such a difficult time - telling me to focus on looking after my dad while they were doing everything they could to look after mum while this situation was going on. It just meant so much.

“Once they were able to get mum home to be with dad, while giving her the care she needed - our final days together were the most precious we’ve ever had, and it gives us all such comfort to know that they’re together now.”

Charlotte Kawalek, a member of the Dementia Team who played a key role in getting Mo home, spoke on the importance of their work: "We ‘just do our job’, but moments like this where you can see the impact it's had is so special. To support Jo and her parents at what was an especially vulnerable period is incredibly meaningful, and fulfilling her wish to have them safely side-by-side was so special."

Dani Poxon, Senior Sister of Ward 203, highlighted the impact of both the emotional surprise visit, and the recognition of the award, saying it would bring her team “such a big boost”.

Continuing, she said: "Our dedicated members of staff work so hard, but to really recognise that you’ve really made a difference to people’s lives feels so rewarding. I hope this story will motivate all of us providing care to continue to make that impact on people and be even more committed to do everything we can for our patients.”

Amanda Rawlings, UHDB Executive Chief People Officer hailed the compassion and dedication shown by our colleagues - saying they “exemplify the values we strive for across UHDB.”

Reflecting on Jo’s visit to Royal Derby Hospital, she continued: “The profound impact their combined work has had on Jo and her family at this difficult time is truly inspirational. 

“This moment, and this award, is a testament to their extraordinary commitment to patient care, and we are incredibly proud of the difference they’ve made."