A deputy ward manager from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has received the international DAISY Award for the outstanding compassionate care they provide to their patients.
Paul Rollings, deputy ward manager, was nominated for the award for the care he provided to an elderly patient.
The DAISY Awards are an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the exceptional care that many nurses and midwives provide every day.
The nomination reads: “My mother was admitted on a section for the first time in her seventies which obviously came as a shock to both her and the family.
“As someone who has dealt with mental health services professionally to a degree for many years it was certainly eye opening as a family member of a patient. Many things have been extremely difficult to navigate but that also highlights those areas or people which have been exceptional and stand out.
“Paul, just wow. So softly spoken, so calm yet how he delivers his message is in a non-judgemental, compassionate, and empathic way. It is actually quite hard to verbalise why he is so special because of his manner He goes out his way to offer support and opinion, he will ensure that he is around and if you have not managed to see him, he will endeavour to find you and update you. You can see the ward is busy and staff are busy, but Paul finds that time, this included following us out of the ward and even on his break speaking to me as I was leaving. In a time that has been so traumatic he offered guidance and support, not avoiding difficult conversations but delivering them in a warm caring manner.
“I recall one conversation where he was talking to me and my mother saw, Paul just quietly asked if mum wanted to join us and rather than a situation tense and confrontational Paul just explained what he had said and I watched as he explained to mum about her behaviour, how it was, and how well she progressed, I had and still have not seen anyone else manage to do this with mum.
“I would say I have no hesitation in nominating Paul for this except the only worry is Paul himself. I imagine he would tell me he is only doing what others do and not going above and beyond, if I am right then Paul, this is the first time we will disagree. Honestly, he is an amazing asset to you all.”
Paul received his award from Emma Wallis, deputy director of nursing and quality, accompanied by his colleagues.
Paul shared: “I am surprised I was highlighted for this nomination on the basis I was doing what I would normally do, but also what others do on the ward.”
“If you want to contribute to making a change for the better and enhance someone wellbeing, then nursing should be a profession of choice.”
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.