Family able to say goodbye to relative thanks to porters' quick action
Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive, presents William Nock with his CEO Award certificate and Louise Durose, Portering Manager, accepts on behalf of Liam Eccleston
A family whose relative suffered a fatal cardiac arrest whilst visiting the hospital were given the chance to say goodbye in a peaceful and dignified way, thanks to the actions of two quick-thinking porters at Royal Stoke University Hospital. The visitor went into arrest whilst using the lift but was aided by William Nock and Liam Eccleston, who quickly alerted medical teams and enabled a transfer to Resus. Their combined action meant the visitor had a dignified passing and that family were able to be there at the end of their life.
Louise Durose, Portering Manager, said: “William just happened to be passing by a lift when he heard a bit of a thud and went to investigate. When he realised the person was in trouble he sprung into action, alerting the reception team to raise a crash call, collecting a trolley to transport the patient and calling on Liam to collect the hydraulic lifting equipment to help lift the patient off the floor.
“I really am proud of both William and Liam, they both work so hard. People don’t always realise what a skilled job portering is, but it involves a lot of mental and emotional intelligence as well as physical strength and resilience.”
William is one of the hospital’s youngest porters. He and twin brother Conrad joined the trust as part of an initiative called ‘Project Search’, an internship which helps young adults with certain additional learning needs and other disabilities to develop skills for work.
William Nock
Louise said: “As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, William saw his internship interrupted back in March, but he returned to site in June as a fully-fledged member of staff. He has worked throughout this difficult time and has had such a positive impact on all who have come to know him. We have seen his confidence grow and develop over the last few months, along with his general ability and his interpersonal skills. He is a bubbly, caring and compassionate member of staff and a pleasure to work with.”
William and Liam have been given the Chief Executive’s Award in recognition of the significant difference they made to a patient and their family.
William said: “I am sad that the patient passed away but feel happy that what I did has meant his family could say goodbye in private. Helping him has made me feel humble and grateful and I feel very proud of myself for having achieved what I have. I am thankful for being given this award, it has made me feel appreciated.”
Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive, said: “William only heard a slight noise in the lift but he was conscientious and decided to take a bit of time to check everything was ok. Clearly it wasn’t ok, so it just goes to show that you should always trust your instinct if you feel that something is wrong. The difference William and Liam’s actions made to this person and their family are immeasurable. The patient was able to receive vital clinical attention which gave them a better ending to their life and bought time for family to get over to the hospital to say goodbye. Although it is still a very sad outcome and not the one everyone wanted, this is a fantastic example of how just that little bit more care can make a difference and William and Liam should be very proud.”