Nurse Associate Gemma King from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital has won a Cavell Star Award for going above and beyond for her patients.
Colleague and Lead Nurse for Dementia Care Jade Garlick from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust explains why Gemma deserves her award,
“Gemma works within a specialist dementia team and I know all of our patients are in very good, caring hands when they are seen by Gemma. She works tirelessly to update families about their loved ones when they may not be able get into the hospital and managed to raise funds to purchase iPads during covid, in order to make sure our patients living with dementia could video call their families.
“Recently Gemma noted that one of our patients living with dementia had lost his wedding ring in hospital. He and his wife had been married for 60 years and his wife was devastated about the loss of the ring. Gemma, going above and beyond, managed to get the ring back by alerting the hospitals laundry department to look out for it, and look out for it they did!
“They managed to find the ring again and with permission of the family, Gemma asked the hospital Chaplin to bless the rings for the patient and his wife. This is just one example of what Gemma does every day to make the stay for our patients living with dementia and their families easier. She is an asset to our team and I am proud of her every day.”
Gemma reacted to winning her Cavell Star Award,
“I was shocked and was totally taken by surprise! I feel that what I do for the patients I see each day is something that all nursing professionals do. I will cherish my Cavell Star for the rest of my life. I realise just how important the award is and to get an award that is in Memory of a WW1 war nurse Edith Cavell is astonishing! My mum and dad, husband and family are super proud.
“I am proud to be apart of the Dementia team at East Kent Hospitals, the team do an amazing job. I learn every day from my peers and I wouldn’t be half the nurse I am today without their support and guidance.”