#TeamUHDB colleague Paul wins BBC Radio Derby Make a Difference Award
A UHDB colleague who always goes above and beyond has been awarded the prestigious Key Worker Award in this year’s BBC Radio Derby Make a Difference Awards.
Paul Gothard who is an Intensive Care Nurse at Royal Derby Hospital, was shortlisted for the accolade alongside two other UHDB colleagues Paul Brooks MBE and Amanda Broad for their outstanding contributions and commitment to health care in the local area.
After attending a ceremony earlier this month, he was announced the winner of the Key Worker Award and said he was ‘mesmerised’ by all of the other nominees and winners at the event.
Paul said: “I really didn’t expect it. It means such a lot to be against those in my category and to win was just incredible.
“Listening to all of the stories and what the other nominees had done for their patients and the public was just mesmerising and it was an honour to be there with them.”
Paul said he was left speechless when he was named the winner.
He said: “I didn’t prepare anything because I honestly didn’t think I would be going on that stage but I am really happy, it just doesn’t feel real.”
Paul always strives to go the extra mile for his patients and their families, and he demonstrated this by creating a memory box of keepsakes for a patient’s granddaughter, sorting food and drinks for the family and even staying late after his shift to make sure they were okay.
Paul said: “Palliative care is the one chance we have to get it right for patients and their families and the main goal is to support them to ensure the patient has a dignified and comfortable death.
"This can be through the use of medication, holistic individual care planning and comfort care but the main thing is to work with patient if they’re still able to, communicate with compassion and care and allowing patients to have that time with their families.”
Congratulations Paul from all of us at #TeamUHDB