We asked to hear about people who go the extra mile for their communities. Jane McGowan meets the winners of the Essential Surrey Local Hero Awards...
Ruth Hindmarch
Ruth Hindmarch is clinical team leader for Community Children’s Nursing Team East Surrey. She was nominated by Charlotte and James Shaw from Redhill.
“I wanted to nominate a wonderful lady,” says Charlotte. “We came across her last August, when our then four-year-old son [Harry] was very unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer and it felt as if our lives had started to fall apart. We’ve met hundreds, if not thousands, of NHS staff since then, but there is something very special about this lady.
“Her name is Ruth and she heads up – and is very much part of – the Community Nursing Team. It’s hard to describe what makes her special – it’s just part of who she is. She has been a truly wonderful support for our family regarding all aspects of cancer and has instilled a ‘we can do this’ attitude, helping us to break down all our fears into something manageable.
“Ruth always seems to have time for us to ask those ‘niggly’ little questions that we otherwise might not. We find reassurance in her answers and sleep a bit better for knowing.”
On hearing about the award, Ruth adopts the same attitude as her fellow winners, attributing everything to group effort.
“I couldn’t do it without the team,” she says, insisting that we credit Vicky, Kelsey, Sarah, Suzie, Caroline, Karen and Lucia.
It was back in 1998 that Ruth was asked to set up a service offering specialised care to children – from new-borns to 18-year-olds – that covered all types of illnesses and needs.
“We are just one cog in a really big wheel,” she says. “The aim is to make the diagnosis less impactful for the family. We work around the child and the family to try and help them keep a normal routine.
“It’s overwhelming for parents to find out their child has cancer. Then they have to try and understand the system – the local hospital, specialist hospitals and so on – and also come to terms with all the jargon that is used in the nursing world. Suddenly they need to understand blood results.
“In the midst of all that, we are the people they see in their home. They can ask us absolutely anything. If we don’t know the answer, we will find someone who does.
“We just want to make things a bit more normal. By meeting siblings and extended family members, we get to see how the diagnosis has affected them all and we do what we can to find the right support. We meet some amazing people. Actually, it’s a real privilege to do this job.”
For Charlotte, it’s clear that Ruth has been far more than just a clinical lead.
“She is always game for a laugh and regularly leaves our house with a volley of Nerf gun bullets following her and our son mischievously giggling away. She has appeared at our local hospital – ‘just checking in’, as she puts it – when she has known that we’re finding things particularly tough. And she gets things sorted for us when we feel a bit lost between our various hospitals.
“Ruth has made our cancer journey bearable. Having recently discovered that our son is unlikely to survive, it gives us so much comfort that she will be with us through to the end. She is a testament to community nursing: the NHS at its absolute best.”
We are very sad to report that Harry passed away just a few days ago, but Charlotte was determined Ruth and the team received the recognition they deserve. During Harry’s final weeks, the family set up a fund for research into childhood cancer. You can find out more about how you can help at: justgiving.com/fundraising/harrysgiantpledge.
With thanks to prize sponsors GoBoat and Comptoir Libanais
