As Christmas approaches, our thoughts turn to celebrations, Santa, presents under the tree and a little baby in a manger – all the things that make this time of year so special.
And, it turns out, Paisley has its very own special symbol of Christmas – a real-life angel.
Linda Mayberry is a nurse who works every day to make life a little better for patients and their families, and her colleagues have just nominated her for a major national honour – the Adult Nursing Award at the inaugural RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.
And when Linda found out, she thought it was a festive wind-up. “It was our Christmas night out on the day I heard,” she said, “and I thought someone was having a joke. But when I realised they were being serious, I was just so touched and honoured. To be thought of like this is so lovely – in fact, I got quite emotional.”
Linda, 54, who hails from Paisley, works at the Institute for Neurological Sciences (INS) in Glasgow as Patient Flow Coordinator, helping to minimise stresses and worries for anyone who spends time in the INS – either as a patient or a relative or visitor.
“We look at the patient journey from start to finish and do all we can to make it as easy as possible. We want the patient to come in with no hiccups. Knowing exactly where they’re going, and that we can get them home without too many hitches at the end of their time with us – it takes such a load off for them.”
The biggest challenge facing Linda and all staff at the INS is that 60% of patients are emergencies, coming to the INS from all over the west of Scotland – and in many cases having suffered very serious injuries.
“In emergency cases we are dealing with people who may be receiving devastating news,” Linda said. “And it’s not just patients who may be facing a life-changing situation, so I look at the whole family.
“We want them all to be able to concentrate on their treatment and recovery. We don’t want them to worry unnecessarily so we try to make things as easy as possible for them. If the family are happy, the patient is happy and that really helps them.”
Like NHS services all over Scotland, the INS is currently facing considerable pressures, and so Linda and her colleagues feel an even greater obligation to patients and their families – to remember what’s most important about her job.
“These are real people going through sometimes really scary times and we just want to help them,” she said.
“For example, we may have a family with young children, so we put the patient in a single room so the children can spend time with their parent.
“Or maybe a new mum who has suffered a haemorrhage during child birth. We want to keep the family together, so we give them a room with real privacy so they can still bond with the baby.
“That’s what it’s all about – we want to make sure people are more than just a diagnosis.”
Linda was nominated for the award by Pamela Philp, Lead Nurse for Neurosurgery. She said: “Linda is our fantastic Patient Flow Coordinator. Her whole focus is on improving a patient’s journey through our unit, and she uses her significant clinical expertise to support sound clinical decisions in patient flow. By improving patient flow we can treat more patients.
“Linda’s enthusiasm for continuing to improve our services for our patients is contagious – in fact, she’s the glue that keeps our unit together and working so well.”
But Linda was more reluctant about being singled out for such high praise. “I’m really proud of what I do, and I know my job’s important, but this is a team – that’s how this whole place works. We’re just one big, brilliant team, and I feel like everyone should be recognised.”
Linda lives in Paisley with husband John, and has a daughter Emma and grandson Lewis, 5. And while everyone is delighted about the nomination, one member of the family is particularly proud.
Linda said: “Emma has been telling everybody she could. She’s a chef at the Corinthian in Glasgow, and if I call her, I’ll hear people in the background shouting: ‘Is that the nurse of the year?’ ”
Linda will be spending Christmas and New Year at home with her family – especially little Lewis, who she admits is the apple of her eye. “But, of course, I’ll be back in the INS in between,” she added.
“You can’t keep me away for that long!”
:: The shortlist for the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards with will announced in February, with the awards ceremony held in June, in the spectacular Grand Gallery in Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland.
ENDS