Worcestershire nurse went eight weeks without seeing her daughter to help those who needed it during pandemic - The Malvern Observer

Worcestershire nurse went eight weeks without seeing her daughter to help those who needed it during pandemic

Malvern Editorial 22nd Jan, 2021   0

AN AWARD-WINNING student nurse has revealed she went eight weeks without seeing her daughter in order to care for Covid patients at the height of the pandemic.

Lucy Pugh said she took the difficult decision to send her daughter, who has asthma, to live with her father in order to keep her safe while working on Covid-19 isolation ward during the first eight weeks of the outbreak last year.

The 33-year-old won the University of Worcester Exceptional Care Award and is studying for a BSc in Adult Nursing having recently graduated from a Foundation Degree in Mental Health at the University of Worcester.

“We FaceTimed every day, sent letters and presents and organised quiz nights,” she said. “It was one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever made, but we had an amazing reunion when it was safe for my daughter to come home again.”




Speaking after being honoured for her dedication, Lucy revealed her pride in being able to care for people.

“It is truly a gift. For me, the key components of exceptional care are having empathy for the person, listening to their needs and helping someone feel heard even when they are in their last hours of life,” she said.


“Whilst our ward was operating as a Covid cohort ward we still worked hard to promote recovery.”

“We never gave up on anyone and always had hope, obviously some patients did become too poorly and providing a positive end of life journey had to be our focus. To see a larger than usual mortality rate was a moving and difficult experience to come to terms with.”

Lucy was working in payroll for a recruitment company when she first felt called to a career in care.

She enrolled on a university access course to bridge the gap to higher education and left her job in payroll to begin working as a domiciliary carer. Once her access course was complete, Lucy enrolled on the foundation degree, and after three years working in dementia care she secured a job on a clinical ward at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Lucy now plans to finish her nurse training and become a palliative care nurse in a hospice.

The Exceptional Care Award is sponsored by Ros Keeton, a fellow of the University of Worcester.

Jo Augustus, course Leader for the Foundation Degree in Mental Health at the University of Worcester, nominated Lucy for the award.

“In the care setting, one of Lucy’s great strengths was engaging her patients with their recovery plans and ensuring they were well connected to support in the community so that they were in a strong position to return home and live their lives to the full,” she said.

“Lucy has constantly gone over and above in order to ensure she is offering truly exceptional care,” Jo added.

“She is a kind, compassionate and highly skilled practitioner, and a fantastic addition to the nursing profession.”

 

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