A NURSE who helped make a patient’s final wish come true saw her dedication to caring for people rewarded during a special WOW! Awards lunch hosted by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Elsa Jose, who works on Ward E2 at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, which also serves the Alton and Bordon area, acted quickly to ensure that a woman who was near the end of her life got the chance to say goodbye to as many members of her family as possible.

Having been informed that the patient was gravely ill, Elsa explained the situation to the lady’s family as soon as possible. As a result, the patient was able to fulfil her wish of speaking individually to each member of her family. One grandchild even had time to fly in from Singapore, thanks in part to Elsa’s quick thinking and compassion.

The patient’s family, who nominated Elsa for the award, said: “I felt Elsa showed great integrity, respect and care for me and my mother in talking to me. Because of this, as a family we were able to maximise the remaining 40 hours of my mother’s life.”

Elsa said: “It was really sad, but it’s nice to know that I was able to make a difference in what was a really difficult time for that family.

“Just to be able to give them a bit of notice, so the family knew what was going on a bit earlier, gave them more time to get to hospital and say their goodbyes to their loved one.

“The family had already sent me a personal thank you card, but I was surprised and pleased when I heard that they had also nominated me for a WOW! Award.”

Elsa was one of many WOW! Award winners honoured for their hard work, dedication and care during the lunch event. Other winners included David Townley and Kyle Hadnett from the fracture clinic at Basingstoke hospital, who were praised for the way they treated a frightened young patient, and Nick Maich from the site team at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, who managed to place an elderly couple on the same ward.

Staff can be nominated for a WOW! Award by colleagues, patients or visitors throughout the year, with a handful of winners selected by the trust’s public governors each month.

Speaking at the lunch, Elizabeth Padmore, chairman of Hampshire Hospitals, which runs Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, said: “I’m so proud of all of you here today. Some of the stories we heard brought tears to my eyes.

“I know that you all think you are just doing your jobs, but you are doing so much more than that. It’s people like you who make our hospitals as good as they are. You are all truly amazing.”