Two nurses receive DAISY Awards for the way they support patients and families

Two nurses from Northampton General Hospital have received DAISY Awards for the way they have supported patients and families with difficult issues.

Staff Nurse Lauren Head received the award to mark her work in end-of-life-care and organ and tissue donation in the emergency department and Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist Flavia Taylor for the way she goes above and beyond to support patients with challenging life situations.

The DAISY Awards are an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the exceptional care that nurses and midwives provide every day.

Lauren was nominated by Specialist Nurse Hayley Timms who wrote in her nomination: “Lauren is an amazing nurse and in particular is an incredible ambassador for organ and tissue donation. During her time in the Emergency Department she quickly became a link nurse for end-of-life care, an area she clearly feels incredibly passionate about. Lauren is a true role model to the colleagues that work with her, and she very much leads by example. Her commitment in particular to offering the best possible care at the end-of-life shines through and she is a real leader when it comes to offering organ and tissue donation as something she knows can bring comfort to bereaved relatives. She is not afraid to champion this cause and advocate for those most vulnerable patients whose own voices can sadly no longer be heard. This for me is the measure of a truly brilliant nurse.”

Radiographer Maulik Darji nominated Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist Flavia Taylor, and wrote: “Flavia Taylor is a kind, caring, and hard-working clinical nurse specialist who goes above and beyond, day-in-and-out, to ensure that patients have the best journey they can during a difficult period of their life. Flavia is always there to listen, advise and support patients and do her best to ensure that their concerns are addressed in a timely manner.”

She supported a patient in clinic with multiple challenges which had led them to having mental health problems. Maulik added:

“The patient has reported that they feel that there is some light at the end of the tunnel, there is somebody who cares and listen to their concerns. They feel like a totally different person now and feel more positive. They now feel able to focus on the future and is very grateful for all the help.

Maulik nominated Flavia for a Daisy Award, because she has gone above and beyond to make a positive change in a patient’s life.

Interim Director of Nursing Jo Smith said: “Lauren and Flavia have both demonstrated their sensitivity, compassion and dedication to improving patient care.

“They have both gone above and beyond what would be expected in their support for both individual patients and their families and I am very proud to have presented them with their awards “

Each winner receives a certificate, a DAISY pin badge and “Healer’s Touch” sculpture.

DAISY Awards were first launched in America in 1999 following the death of a patient Patrick J Barnes who had received outstanding care for a Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, (DAISY).

To nominate someone for a DAISY Award go to: https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Patients-and-Visitors/Staff-recognition/DAISY-awards.aspx