Published on: 20 February 2024
A Mental Health Nurse at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been praised by a patient who is ‘eternally grateful’ for the mental health support they received at the Trust. 
Sarah Shirley, Mental Health Nurse for the Adult Acute Inpatients service in the Hartington Unit at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, was celebrated for helping a patient transition from inpatient care into the community. This involved helping a patient to transfer closer to their loved ones during the festive period, to aid the patient’s recovery through family support.
In the Trust’s Delivering Excellence Every Day (DEED) awards, which recognises and celebrates Derbyshire Healthcare staff and volunteers who have gone ‘above and beyond’ in their work, and thereby demonstrated one or more of our Trust values, the patient wrote a special thank you message for their unwavering support during a particularly difficult time.
The patient wrote: “I would like to thank [Sarah] personally from the bottom of my ‘healing heart’ for all your support in my time of need. I would especially like to thank you for going over and above for me in ensuring I received the transfer I needed to be near my hometown. I am eternally grateful. I will now be closer to my family and loved ones and this is because of you, Sarah. Again, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you".
Sarah has worked as a Registered Nurse since October last year. Having supported loved ones through their mental health struggles, Sarah’s interest for mental health nursing only grew stronger from her personal experiences.
Dave Mason, Interim Director of Nursing and Patient Experience at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This award is thoroughly deserved. Sarah is a huge asset to her team and the organisation, making a mark on people both professionally and personally in such a short space of time. Sarah is a shining example for colleagues, no matter what role they are in.
“It is colleagues like Sarah who make a real difference to the communities we serve, leaving a long lasting and life-changing impression on patients, which is not an easy thing to achieve. Very well done, Sarah!”
Reflecting on Dave’s words, Sarah said: “It is lovely to read what a patient has said about their care. I have seen a lot over the years working as a family member of someone receiving care, so I can empathise to some degree on how they may be feeling such as any uncertainty or anxieties often associated with a difficult time. This has helped me to create solid rapports with my patients as they feel understood.
“My role on the ward is not only to work with patients to enable their recovery using a trauma informed approach, but also to work with a patient’s family and friends to ensure all views are considered to provide the appropriate right support.”
If anyone who has experienced good care from a member of staff at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, they can nominate them through the scheme by filling in a DEED nomination form.
