Accolade for caring Heather

Published 16 Sep 2009 14:58 0 Comments

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A HELENSBURGH medic will mingle with the stars when she picks up a gong in London in two weeks' time.

Heather Carrick was nominated by colleague Annie Hair, head of children's services for West Dunbartonshire Community Health Partnership, to win the category of Best Nurse.

The ceremony, organised by WellChild, will see Heather, who runs a team of carers for children with complex needs and life limitings conditions in the area, received the honour after beating off competition from a record number of entries.

Heather held the post of Sister at the Vale of Leven Hospital's former Special Care Baby Unit for many years.

She then transferred her skills and experience to running a service called 'Can Care', working within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which provides weekly respite for parents of children with complex needs or life-limiting conditions.

Alexandria teenager Jenna, suffers from Rett's Syndrome, which means she needs help with daily living as she has frequent epileptic seizures and has to be fed through a gastrostomy tube, as well as having to use a wheelchair because of impaired mobility.

For Jenna's Mum Sharon, life was very restrictive until Heather introduced carers and trained them to meet Jenna's needs.

This gave Sharon the ability and confidence to leave Jenna with these special carers to have some time away from home for shopping and meeting with family and friends.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISER

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