Michele Grange

Community Matron

Swindon Community Health Services

Michele Grange

Michele Grange

Michele said: "I feel very overwhelmed and grateful that someone has spent the time to nominate me. I feel as if I’ve won already just for being nominated and it inspires me to continue to do my best for my patients."

She was nominated by Marie Hill, who said: “Michele has been my daughter's community matron for several years. Kate was born with a single ventricle in her heart - she has outlived predictions of any life expectancy they thought she would have. However throughout the years Kate has faced many battles with her health and this has had a huge impact on my health too. Michele entered our lives several years ago. I never expected when I opened the door what a huge impact Michele would have on our lives. This tiny lady at our door turned out to be an angel with wings - an amazing bundle of fun, who prevented extra hospital admissions, who has cared for not only Kate but our family, who has sought hospital appointments which had previously been dismissed by other medics and got diagnoses from other leading hospitals in London for my daughter. I will never be able to thank Michele enough for the support and care she has provided to my family, especially over the the last year when the whole world was in lockdown. Just knowing I can pick up the phone to Michele has been a lifeline. The quality of care Michele provides goes above and beyond and I would dearly like her to be recognised for her worth."

Lisa Hocking

Assistant Director of Infection Prevention and Control at GWH

Lisa Hocking

Lisa Hocking

Lisa said: “I am extremely flattered to have been nominated and to have made it to the finals, wow and thank you. It’s been a privilege to have been supporting the Trust and use my skills and knowledge built from a variety of experiences over the years, to support our staff through the pandemic. The hours were long and much needed at time, and I was certainly not alone in giving everything we could to deliver safe and effective care.”

She was nominated by Kate Myrie, who said: “Lisa has been instrumental in the entire Trust’s approach to the pandemic, sitting on the Covid control team and joining daily calls with regional and national leads to understand changing guidance. She has helped to organise the hospital into Covid and non-Covid areas so that the risk of infection was reduced, and has worked closely with staff on the wards to support them with adequate PPE wearing, hand washing and social distancing. She has worked a lot of overtime and weekends, supporting with immediate and adaptive changes to the way the Trust works when national guidance was released and her role has been vital in keeping patients and staff safe. Lisa has ensured that many lives have been saved, by leading the infection prevention and control response to the pandemic which has seen a huge reduction in the spread of infection due to safety measures that she introduced, including one-way systems, mask wearing in all areas for everybody who can and necessary restrictions on visiting."

Laura Kirby-Deacon

Clinical Practice Educator and nurse on ICU at GWH

Laura Kirby-Deacon

Laura Kirby-Deacon

Laura said: “Thank you very much for the nomination. I work with an incredible team, who supported me in my vision in providing patients and family with the hearts. To see the idea shared with others hospitals worldwide just highlights the power of human spirit. So thank you.”

She was nominated by Kate Myrie, who said: “At the start of the pandemic, Laura realised that a lot of patients would sadly have to die without having their family around them. She understood the emotional impact this would have on the patient and their loved ones and that it would make the grieving process difficult for families separated by the virus. Laura launched an incredible initiative designed to connect patients and their loved ones in the final moments, and the scheme was so well-received that it gained international media coverage, even reaching as far as Australia.

"Laura asked local people to knit pairs of hearts in all colours. When a patient was coming to the end of their life, a pair of hearts were given to the patient. One heart was wrapped with the body, and the other was sent to the family via the funeral directors. This was a small and simple initiative, but the response was overwhelming. Over 10,000 hearts were donated to the cause, knitted by local residents in Swindon and Wiltshire. Families have spoken of their gratitude and comfort that the hearts have brought to them during an incredibly difficult time of grief. The hearts act as a lasting reminder of the families’ loved one.

"Every single patient who has passed away during COVID-19, and going forwards, for every other patient who will die in hospital, will receive a knitted heart and another will be sent to their family. A number of the hearts have also been used to decorate tress on site at the hospital, in memory of two members of staff who lost their lives to Covid-19.

"Laura’s focus is always on her patients, and doing all she can to get them better so they can go home. But Laura knows it is important to not forget those who sadly pass away, and has dedicated her efforts this year to support the families and friends who have lost loved ones."