A GRATEFUL daughter nominated a Barnsley nurse and her colleagues for the Proud of Barnsley Hospital Hero award for the outstanding care her mum received.
In July, Julie Parkin’s mum Carmel underwent colostomy surgery and a cancer diagnosis following an emergency admission to Barnsley Hospital.
She was then introduced to stoma care nurse Jane Parker to support Carmel in her transition of adapting to living life with a stoma.
Julie said in her nomination: “Jane was friendly and compassionate from the start and we quickly learnt from friends and family that Jane’s reputation preceded her.
“Jane has consistently displayed empathy towards my mum and gave her the knowledge and confidence to understand her new regime whilst using humour to address any negativity or uncertainty displayed by us.
“Jane also advocated for my mum on more than one occasion during her stay in hospital ensuring my mum’s needs were prioritised and met when we were not present to support her.
“It is clear that Jane is part of a unique team and when we have had contact either by phone or face to face with any of the team including the ward clerk my mum is fondly welcomed by all and remembered.
“The emotional support has been outstanding and what is reassuring is that the individual is first rather than the diagnosis.
“Also keeping us emotionally supported and informed, has enabled such a shocking life-changing event to be less fearful even though we have challenges ahead.”
Jane and the stoma care team are finalists in the Hospital Hero category of the awards and Jane said: “We look after lots of patients in Barnsley babies, children and adults who come into the hospital with bowel problems particularly bowel surgery.
“We are called to see the patients to look after them and support them through a really terrible time because the surgery that they undergo is life-changing.
“I was asked to see a wonderful lady called Carmel who had had surgery and it was an emergency surgery which is always much worse because they have not been prepared to have this surgery so when I met Carmel on the ward she was obviously upset having a stoma is life-changing and learning to live with a stoma and a diagnosis can be really difficult not just for Carmel but for her family and particularly Julie her daughter.
“So we spend lots of time with family, we go on the ward every day to support to patient, to talk them through how they’re feeling from a psychological point of view, a physical point of view and get them up and going so we can get them home because that’s where they need to be to recover.”
Jane says that the favourite part of her job is the privilege of looking after people who are going through such a difficult time and being allowed to sit with them, chat with them, get to know them and get them better and back home.
“It is a job that is a privilege to do because these people come in so scared and go out, probably not full of confidence, but confident in doing the stoma care and knowing that they can come back to see us.
“We have a stoma clinic where they can come back and we provide counselling, stoma care and just support for the patient.
“Carmel still comes back to see us so it is an ongoing service.
“Patients come back to see us time and time again, not just for stoma care but for support.
“It’s not just a job, it’s a profession and it’s what we love to do.”
