A nurse who cared for patients with serious brain tumours has returned as an NHS volunteer.
Sarah Cox, spent most of her 50-year career in the neuro-oncology department at the former Southern General – now Queen Elizabeth University hospital – in Glasgow.
She missed her patients so much when she retired that she returned as a volunteer.
Now her unstinting loyalty to brain cancer patients is in the running for the prestigious Royal College of Nursing Scotland awards.
The gran, 72, from East Renfrewshire, was nominated by a colleague for the coveted Sunday Post People’s Choice category. Sarah spends two days a week supporting patients on the day of their multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting with specialists.
“The patients are often distraught after a diagnosis of a brain tumour, especially if it is aggressive,” she said.
“It is vital that they have as much support as possible throughout diagnosis and treatment. For me, it’s a huge privilege to be able to continue working with these patients.
“I can’t leave them behind and always knew I would spend my retirement continuing to contribute to our NHS.”
Lesley Morrison, Clinical Nurse Specialist in neuro-oncology, described Sarah as hugely uplifting. She said: “She assists me following our MDT team by greeting patients and staying with them around the time they receive their results.
“Every Wednesday she clocks on following our MDT, in great spirits like a breath of fresh air.
“These patients are awaiting life-changing results and Sarah takes time with them as well as offering tea, coffee and water.
“She also prepares the rooms I use for the patients to return to as I may be held up at the meeting and waits with them, truly making a difference to a very distressing experience. I don’t know what we would do without her.”
Years of experience in nursing have taught her what patients want and need, especially if they are diagnosed with an incurable illness. Sarah said: “The main pillar of nursing is care and concern and that means doing everything possible to make treatment easier.”
There is still time to make nominations. The RCN Scotland said: “The People’s Choice award is an opportunity for you to thank an individual member or team of nursing staff who have made a difference to your care or that of your loved ones.”
The award is open to registered nurses, registered midwives and nursing support workers working within health and care service in Scotland.
Previous People’s Choice winners have included practice nurse Denise Harrison, who helped patients made homeless in Brechin during the floods and child cancer nurse Sarah Bruce, from Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children, who helped turn a struggling children’s oncology clinic in Ghana into a teaching hospital in West Africa.
Entries for the RCN People’s Choice award should be submitted the Royal College of Nursing Scotland at 42 South Oswald Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 2HH, or online.
The deadline is January 31. Click here for more info.
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