Two nurses working for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) at Coalville hospital have received the international DAISY Award for the outstanding compassionate care they provide to their patients.
The DAISY Awards are an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the exceptional care that many nurses and midwives provide every day.
Vicky Fowkes, registered nurse, was nominated for the award for her “professionalism and her great personality”, and Jacy Cottingham, ward sister, was nominated for the prestigious award for going “above and beyond” to ensure her patient was safe and happy.
Vicky’s nomination, from her patient, reads: “I was a patient on Snibston ward over Christmas 2024 and into the new year…all the staff were great but one nurse, Vicky, stood out [for] the way that I saw her care for the other patients, her professionalism and her great personality.
“Nothing was too much trouble for her. How she interacted with other staff was great to see and often she would still be there after her shift was over…all in all an asset to the NHS and deserves recognition.”
Jacy’s nomination, from her patient, reads: “This nurse has helped me every step of my journey…she has gone above and beyond to make sure I am safe, happy and in agreement with my care.
“She is easy to approach and talk to about anything and everything, holding no judgement but simply supporting and listening to me. She has a magic way of putting my mind as ease and empowering me to overcome the fear. She will always be in my thoughts and my heart.”
Both Vicky and Jacy received their award from Jane Martin, assistant director for nursing and quality at LPT, in April accompanied by their nominators and colleagues.
Vicky shared: “What a privilege it is to be nominated for this award and be chosen to win. I love the job satisfaction that being a nurse gives, knowing that I can make a difference to my patients’ journey, even if it’s the smallest thing to them.
“No matter what age you are, if you want to be a nurse and provide care for other people, go for it. It’s never too late. You will make a difference.”
Jacy shared: “I am so overwhelmed and proud for being given this award and will wear my [DAISY] badge with pride. Both the patients we treat and staff I work with are just incredible. I work in such an amazing team where everyone is treated the same and everyone works so hard.
“The award makes me realise how impactful the work we do is and what a difference it makes to our patients and their families or carers.
“What I love about being a nurse in eating disorders is helping people reconnect with themselves and find strength they didn’t know they had. Being part of their healing journey is incredibly meaningful.”
You can thank your nurse by making a DAISY Award nomination here: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/about/daisy-award/
An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was formed in America in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick received when hospitalised profoundly touched his family.
You can find out more about the DAISY Foundation on their website: www.daisyfoundation.org/
Each DAISY Award honouree is recognised at a ceremony in their ward or department and receives a DAISY Award pin, certificate and a hand-carved sculpture A Healer’s Touch, funded by LPT’s charity Raising Health.