Recognition Of Staff Excellence (ROSE) Awards

January

Ripley Urgent Treatment Centre agency nurse, Yvonne Rodney.

During our visit to Ripley Urgent Treatment, Yvonne went over and above the call of duty to get both my wife and I the assistance we both needed. Yvonne ensured we were both taken care of within the best possible way. Thank you, Yvonne. You are what makes the NHS great. Keep your light shining so that other staff members around you can see your good example, and hopefully learn from you.

February

Marianne Holland, a member of our bank staff working on reception at Wheatbridge Sexual Health Clinic.

Marianne made me feel so at ease. She could probably sense I felt so nervous and just kept reassuring me. She has the kindest aura and most welcoming personality I have ever come across. I feel so grateful to have come across Marianne. I also saw the way she interacted with other patients, and I can tell being kind is just her as a person. She made everyone feel welcome and most importantly safe.

March

Jon Seville from Swadlincote podiatry clinic.

John greeted me and didn’t rush me to get up, I have difficulty getting up and walking. It tires me out. When we got into the room John spoke to me about my options clearly and didn’t use lots of medical jargon. He was so nice and very understanding, he was very patient with me as I asked my questions and described how the operation would work and what to expect in the healing process. He even assured me that I could call back at any time if I had any other questions. I felt understood and seen as a person not just a number. The NHS need more people like John, keep up the excellent work.

April

Care co-ordinator - Victoria Audis

Victoria has been the most supportive person throughout this difficult time of caring for my husband. She rang me when I was struggling, and I was able to be honest with her. She gave me time and listened. She is brilliant at her job, and I have no hesitation in recommending her for this award. Thank you, Vicky, you made an unbearable situation bearable and when it was the time for hospice care you gently made this possible and continue to support me which I appreciate beyond words.

May

Karen Heathcote – Buxton UTC

I have had a difficult three months suffering with a physical issue and also mental issues which partly stem from it. Karen knew straight away that I was struggling and talked to me in a direct but caring and professional way. She brought me down, took time to understand why I was so upset and explained to me in a professional way why I didn’t need to worry so much and what to do next. I’m still not completely together but when I feel like I’m going to go to pieces I think of her and what she said, and I feel a little better. I really cannot thank her enough.

June

Barbara Fountain - Resolve

Barbara, where do I start you are just incredible! After struggling with my mental health after a medical emergency on the ward my manager suggested that I refer myself to Resolve.

As someone who struggled with meeting new people and sharing my emotions Barbara was wonderful. She is so welcoming and lovely! Every session she greets you with her beautiful smile!

Barbara has helped me to find my voice and supported me so much. I couldn’t have got through it without her. Seeing her every week made me feel safe and supported. Thank you for the excellent treatment you gave me. Not only was the treatment excellent, but the atmosphere of kindness and joy ministered to my spirit and helped me heal emotionally as well. Thank you for always going above and beyond to ensure I felt welcome and supported in our session. Without you Barbara I don’t know what I would have done. You are one of a kind! So thank you so much.

I will never forget the kindness and love you have shown me. Barbara definitely deserves a ROSE award!

Megan Husbands and Charlotte Kelly

I would like to nominate Megan - Megan is a consistently hardworking and conscientious colleague who regularly goes above and beyond. she is an asset to the rapid nursing team and recent patient feedback has highlighted this to me as her line manager:

“Hello, I’m writing to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional level of care and compassion demonstrated by both Megan Husbands from the high peak rapid response team and Charlotte Kelly from the acute home visiting service on Friday 2nd May whilst caring for my wife in her final hours.

We called the district nursing team, and Megan was dispatched to attend. She gave her another morphine injection, but this didn’t seem to make any difference, so after a short time, she was given another injection. During this time, whilst faced with a very challenging and developing situation, Megan rang for additional support, and Charlotte arrived to assist. Charlotte authorised another higher dose of morphine which Megan administered, and this thankfully managed to stabilise my wife's condition. Shortly after this, whilst finally comfortable my wife sadly passed away soon after.

During this time, and in an increasingly difficult scenario, both Megan and Charlotte demonstrated incredible kindness and professionalism, and working together to determine an appropriate course of action Through this the very difficult time, they could not have been more caring, more reassuring, or more dedicated.

After my wife passed away, they were both extremely caring towards me, making tea, answering my questions, and ensuring that my wife was treated with the upmost dignity and respect.

Megan eventually had to go, but reassured me that appropriate support for her would be in place after what was a very traumatic time.

I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to both Megan and Charlotte for making my wife's last moments comfortable, and for their kindness and compassion in what would have been a very difficult situation. I will always be grateful that they were there and for everything they did for my wife.

July

Hannah Neary - wound care, highly commended

I can honestly say during my near 50 years of receiving healthcare treatment, no one has come close to Hannah’s professionalism, genuine compassion and ongoing care. I’ve had a long term large ulcerous wound on my leg and had resorted to treating myself at home due to past experiences at my doctor’s surgery and getting a team of people all on the same page to help it heal.

I was at a very low point in my life and in pain day after day whilst still going to work as I couldn’t afford to be on sick pay. I told my GP about how depressed I was and how much of a factor my leg was in this. She referred me to the nursing team who got me straight in at the wound clinic due to the severity. I was very anxious about this appointment and not at all hopeful for any improvement. Then I met Hannah! She instantly put me at ease, explained every step of the future plan and was so good at listening when I answered any questions or voiced any concerns. Even after that initial appointment I felt a lot more hopeful due to how professional and caring Hannah had been.

Since then I’ve met other members of the team and seen Hannah a further four times. The level of care has not changed on any of those visits and her knowledge, techniques and caring manner have got my wound to substantially improve. I’m also happier than I’ve ever been for a long long time due to Hannah and the team who all deserve huge praise also. Hannah has treat me with respect, kindness and gone out of her way to accommodate my appointments and needs. She also has tremendous patience answering my questions and her words really motivate me to keep going and see a light at the end of a tunnel getting nearer and nearer.

I have a fiancé in the US who I can’t visit due to my leg stopping me from flying and getting insurance. This period has put a huge strain on us and now with Hannah and the rest of the teams help I hope to be there very soon. I can’t praise Hannah, Heather, Laney and the rest of the team enough. I appreciate the opportunity to acknowledge this as nursing can be a thankless task.

H Grey (sexual health team - London Road) and Butterley Ward

Since I came to the UK as an asylum seeker in January 2025, I have always been scared of being raped due to my past history I faced in my country. I was thinking about a contraceptive method and I searched online as a novice and thought the copper IUD was the best. So I came to the London Road sexual health centre where I was given an appointment the following day for advice on contraceptive methods. Miss Grey explained in a professional way the did methods and their advantages and disadvantages and after that I changed to the nexplanon implant and I’m sure it’s the best option for me thanks to her thorough education on it and her positive and welcoming attitude towards me despite being a black African. I appreciate such welcoming and non-judgmental.

August

Sharon Cobley - brain injury clinical specialist ​​​​

I would like to nominate Sharon for her instrumental role in my husband's recovery following his stroke. At the time, my husband was only 36 years old. After spending four and a half months in the hospital due to an ischemic catastrophic stroke, he faced significant challenges when discharged, as the community support available was inadequate for his rehabilitation needs.

Although he was capable of meeting his rehabilitation goals, it soon became clear that the resources in our community were insufficient. Sharon took it upon herself to seek out additional support for my husband’s recovery. Initially, her efforts were met with setbacks, as she was told that no suitable stroke rehabilitation programs were available.

However, Sharon firmly believed that this situation was unacceptable. She worked diligently to build a case for specialised therapy at a rehabilitation centre. After a successful application, my husband was admitted, and since then, his progress has exceeded all expectations from myself, my family, and my husband.

Both Sharon and I believed that my husband had the potential to achieve much greater progress than what was possible within the hospital setting post-stroke. Sharon has played a crucial role in this journey, and without her and her colleagues advocating for my husband, I don’t think this success would have been possible. I am forever grateful, and my family and I will always appreciate her efforts.

December 2024 - Florence Nightingale Community Hospital Sexual Health Team.

I attended following a sexual assault and was made to feel so cared for and looked after. Every single staff member from the reception team to the HCAs and doctor I saw really were fantastic. The experience I had here really was something I won't forget. They all made me feel calm and comfortable and were extremely understanding during a very difficult time for me. I can't thank them enough.

November 2024 - Emma Jackson from our Integrated Sexual Health Services

Emma went above and beyond without even realising it. It is clear that she is simply a very good and educated person and it is clear that she values her job and her patients so much. I was so grateful for the kind service I received today. She was caring and reassuring, and demonstrated how inclusive she was, as if it was second nature. I could not have asked for a better service, and I could not be more grateful that she was the face who took me through the procedure I was already nervous for. Truly, thank you.

September 2024 - Deanna Pereira-Wrafter from the Dementia Palliative Care Team

My mum suffers with dementia and Alzheimer's and recently had a stroke, she was admitted to Derby Royal Hospital stroke ward, where she really struggled from a dementia point of view as the ward was so busy and noisy. A family friend recommended we ask for support from the dementia team, and we were introduced to Deanna. Deanna visited mum on the ward regularly to check how she was doing and spent time educating the nursing team on how to better care for my mum's dementia needs. She also assisted us as a family when my mum was transferred to St Oswald's in Ashbourne and subsequently visited mum there.  Deanna was so caring and compassionate towards my mum and was a real advocate for her on the ward, always having her health and wellbeing at heart, and took time to engage and talk to my mum as a friend. Deanna has continued to provide support for both mum and me since mum was discharged from hospital and has made sure we have continued palliative dementia support at home. We cannot thank Deanna enough for her support and kindness, her role has made a huge difference to us at an incredibly difficult time. Thank you Deanna.

August 2024 - Alison Smedley, podiatry receptionist, Pear Tree Clinic who received three nominations

I have known Alison Smedley at Peartree for quite some time and always found her to be efficient and professional in her approach to work. She is always friendly and cheerful and greets you with a smile on arrival.  She does her best to find a suitable next appointment and will contact you if a cancellation arises or an alternative clinic has availability. Alison is so helpful when you go into clinic and also if you ring up with a problem nothing is too much trouble for her.

Alison is so caring, very professional. Always had a kind word, nothing is too much trouble for her. It's always lovely to see her smiling face. She is the sort of person that the NHS needs. I wish her well in everything she wishes to achieve in her professional career.

July 2024 - Julie Cooper, community nurse, Alfreton Primary Care Centre

Julie and her team, Carly and Laura especially were absolutely incredible with our family when our son/brother was transferred from the paediatric nursing team to adults, Julie went above and beyond ensuring we were empowered, supported and cared for, nothing was too much trouble, she liaised meticulously with GP and the palliative care team at the hospice to ensure Owen could be cared for at home. Our son Owen had a chronic terminal illness, he heartbreakingly died but died very peacefully at home surrounded by love.

Nothing was ever too much trouble and as parents and sibling of Owen we were facing the most unimaginable situation. Julie was an absolute angel, as were Carly and Laura who visited and administered medication with such compassion and kindness. They really are amazing.

June 2024 - Jackie Hancock, Derby Rapid Response Team

My Dad had a sudden admission to hospital, after being fit, well and independent undergoing radiotherapy, this admission lead to a diagnosis of palliative advanced cancer. Coming out of hospital when he lived alone and had previously been totally independent was very worrying for us as a family. We were told an outside company would be coming into care for Dad, but we had some big issues with the company and the care he received. We told Jackie about our concerns on her very first visit to us back at Dad's home and she immediately got on the phone and got the amazing rapid response carers to come in and start looking after Dad. She also made sure she raised our concerns with her managers to prevent further issues with future patients. We felt Jackie was so kind, compassionate, and caring at a time our lives had been turned upside down. We will be forever grateful to Jackie, and we think she is an asset to your team.

May 2024 - Overdale Community Nursing Team

The Overdale community nurses looked after me over an 8-month period when I needed almost daily dressing changes for painful and distressing leg ulcers. All three were professional and caring but their can-do attitude resulted in solutions always being found to the many medical and scheduling challenges which arose. All that aside they made every appointment almost a pleasure with their compassion, humour, and gentleness. They are a credit to the NHS and their profession. I am now being treated elsewhere but the service level provided at this practice far exceeds what I’ve experienced at any of the seven countries I have lived on.