The excellent work done by Yeovil District Hospital's Community Children's Nursing team has been highlighted thanks to the gratitude of a West Coker family.
The excellent work done by Yeovil District Hospital’s Community Children’s Nursing team has been highlighted thanks to the gratitude of a West Coker family.
Maggie Ayre has nominated Tracy Frost for a Claire Rayner Patient’s Choice Award in recognition of the care and support she gives to her 13-year-old son, Jack Goodland. Tracy has known Jack, who underwent a kidney transplant 11 years ago, since he was four years old when she was a nurse on the children’s ward.
Maggie said: “I don’t know how I would cope without Tracy’s support. She is so reliable and kind and nothing is ever too much trouble. Jack is anxious about having more surgery so, in a bid to reassure him, Tracy organised a visit to an operating theatre for him to have a look around.
“Tracy organised it for a Sunday when he was off school and the theatre was quiet. She accompanied him on the tour, helping him to ask any question he wanted, even though it was her day off.
“Having a child who has had a transplant is extremely stressful: the journey is not easy and having someone like Tracy by your side is extremely comforting. She goes above and beyond the call of duty to support children and families. I know that Tracy works far more hours than she is paid for, but she never makes you feel you are a nuisance if you need her help. She deserves the award.”
Tracy said: “I am pleased that the team has been acknowledged for the work it does – Jack is a great boy and I am delighted to be able to help him and his family.”
The other members of the Community Children’s Nursing Team are sister and team leader, Jennie Hunt and Alex Stennet who specialises in oncology – Tracey specialises in cystic fibrosis.
Jennie said: “Paediatricians in the hospital refer children to us to either enable early discharge or prevent an admission in the first place. We aim to support families by allowing them to lead as normal a life as possible when they have a sick child.
“We either visit the child at home or at school where we can take blood pressure and give injections for example – this avoids the need for them to take time off school and for the parent to take time off work to bring them up to the hospital.
“Community children’s nurses do inevitably become part of the family when a child has a long-term condition – there is a lot of responsibility, we are lone workers and there is no doctor on hand. But we love it – it is so rewarding.”
Finalists for the Claire Rayner Patient’s Choice Award will be announced at the end of February after which the public will be asked to vote for the nurse they believe most deserves the accolade which includes a prize of �1,000.
