Primary Care Liaison Nurse – Learning Disabilities, Stacey Birley-Tedder from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has won a Cavell Star Award for going above and beyond for her patients.
Colleague and Primary Care Liaison Nurse Lucy Miller explains why Stacy is such a deserving winner.
“Stacey has worked with a vulnerable patient for the last 2 years. This patient wasn’t attending annual health checks so she made home visit. He often didn’t attend appointments and when Stacey has organised to meet him for these he hasn’t been home. She has driven around the area he lives and the areas he is known to socialise in and found him to take him to the appointments.
“Stacey identified the patient needed a package of care which would support him in all aspects of his life including collecting medication, co-ordinating and attending appointments. Stacey referred to social care and advocated strongly for this package of care and ensured it was in place. Further safeguarding has been raised and again Stacey advocated for more support as the package of care was not completely meeting his needs. The patient’s trust in Stacey and her perseverance with supporting him has helped him consider other options and he is moving into supported living in the near future.
“Stacey has worked tirelessly for the patient to support not only his physical health but his mental health. She has touched all aspects of the patient’s life, gained his trust and without her support his life could have taken an even more negative turn and without exaggeration could have led to the direst of consequences. Stacey’s dedicated, constant and determined support demonstrates all the trust values and more and as a team we are so proud of the difference she has made.”
Stacey reacted to winning her Cavell Star Award.
“I was very surprised as I was not expecting it! I think it can be difficult sometimes to give yourself praise because you are just doing your job. Being recognised with a Cavell Star Award is such an amazing honour and I am very proud of the work I do with patients.
“People with learning disabilities face many inequalities in their lives, including average age of death being much lower than the general population. Some patients need minimal support such as reasonable adjustments to enable them to access healthcare. Others need high levels of support to be able to access their appointments including going to see their doctor or dentist. I am proud of the work we do to enable people with learning disabilities who struggle to access primary care services, to not only access these appointments but also to access equitable care through treatment or interventions that may have not seemed possible.
“My team has such a wide range of knowledge and experiences, and I value their support and guidance. I think multiagency working is key in creating positive outcomes for our patients, I could not have done it without them. I would like to thank them as they have helped shape me into the professional I am today.”