Home Haemodialysis Sister Jen Steedman from Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals has won a Cavell Star Award for going above and beyond for her patients.
Glenda Bestford, colleague and Deputy Matron explains why Jen is such a worthy winner,
“Prior to and throughout the pandemic, Jen has gone above and beyond for her patients. One example of this is when a patient’s carer was in ill health and not able to maintain the standards of care required to continue to Dialysis at home. Jen and her colleague Victoria, also a Home HD sister, undertook a deep clean of the home returning the environment back to the minimum standard required to safely Dialysis at home. This is not within their remit but they recognised the patients desire to stay at home due to the improved quality of life they have Dialysis independently. The patient was able to remain at home and the carer was able to access the support they required to continue to care for their loved one.
“Changes within the main Dialysis unit has enabled Jen to open a home Dialysis training bay, which allows patients to start their journey towards home treatment. Jen and her team are able to assess the needs of their patients and tailor their training accordingly. An example of this is an elderly patient who, historically, would have been deemed unsuitable for home treatment due to his age and ability. Jen supported them to undertake Dialysis training over an extended period of time, allowing the patient to learn at their pace and build confidence despite their increasing frailty. This patient did manage to Dialysis with the help of their carer at home, with Jen supporting them in the background. This was a huge success and encouraged other patients to consider home Dialysis.”
Read more about Jen Steedman
“A ‘Star Turn’ for home haemodialysis sister” The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust