COMMUNITY STARS Sue Reid Amber ward health hero

WITH six nominations in the Herald and Gazette’s Community Stars Awards, Sue Reid is clearly a popular woman.

Sue is a nursing assistant on Amber ward at Southlands Hospital, and the nomination forms for her in the Health Heroes category speak volumes about her role in patients’ recoveries.

Derek Down, of Hudson Drive, Rustington, said: “She is a wonderful nurse and most of all she encourages us and makes us laugh, which helps us to get better. She instils confidence and optimism in the patient.”

Speaking to the Herald, Derek, 75, added: “She just seemed to have time for everybody and she went out of her way to do things for you that she needn’t have done.”

Derek was under Sue’s care twice, first in November last year when he had a hip replaced, and then again in May this year when he had the other one replaced.

The Amber ward cares for patients who have had joint replacements, spinal surgery and minor operations on their upper and lower limbs.

Nominating Sue, Jennifer Parsons said: “She is a wonderful nurse, and cares for her father and step-mother when she’s not working.

“She lights up the ward when she’s at work. Nothing is too much trouble. She is an angel in uniform.”

In his nomination for Sue, William Spinks said: “She is always bubbly and caring and puts patients at ease before operations and after.”

Trevor Ford, of Hammy Lane, Shoreham, said: “She’s a very hard worker and makes your stay a happy and memorable one.”

While Paul Curtis, of Kingsland Road, Worthing, added: “I was looked after very well. Nothing was too much trouble.”

Sue, who has worked on the ward for nine years, is an orthopaedic nursing assistant.

She said she loves her work and added: “I do aim to go above and beyond what is expected of me, because it’s nice to go home at the end of the day knowing you have done everything you can for the patient.

“When they arrive on the ward, they are often nervous as for some of them it’s their first time in hospital, so I just tell them there’s nothing to worry about and as long as they don’t disturb me when EastEnders is on, we’ll get on fine!

“I love my job and I’m really pleased to be nominated.”

Voting in the Community Stars awards begins on Thursday, October 14.