Joanne Tomlinson (Nurse of the Year 2012) gets a mention in the Secretary of State for Health's speech....(12th Feb 2013)

Published: 28 March 2013

Jeremy Hunt, Reform, An NHS that treats people as individuals
Jo Tomlinson, Nurse of the Year
Let me tell you about a remarkable woman.

Last year’s Nursing Standard ‘Nurse of the Year Award’ went to Johanne Tomlinson. Jo is an extraordinary staff nurse who happens to work in a prison. She noticed how many prisoners with mental health issues – the ones who were particularly aggressive and confrontational – were ex-servicemen.

In response, off her own back and on top of all of her other duties, she studied all she could about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and worked with the mental health charity Combat Stress to set up a 10-point care model and an anxiety care group in the prison. Single-handedly she has transformed the lives of many prisoners in a way that will profoundly improve their chances of a successful reintegration into society.  Her colleagues describe Jo as ‘dedicated’, ‘passionate’, ‘engaging’ and ‘remarkable’.

And the prison where Jo works? Her Majesty’s Prison Stafford. Literally a 5 minute drive from Stafford Hospital. In a way that has often been talked about but never properly delivered.

Conclusion

Healthcare is as much about the interaction between human beings as it is about the success of a particular treatment. It is the kind word, the hand held, the compassion that accompanies the competence.
It isn’t necessarily about new policies. Or milestones and objectives and timelines, important as those things can be. But good healthcare is in the moment. The minute by minute interaction between a person in need and a person there to help.

If, in that moment, a doctor or a nurse treats a patient as they themselves would wish to be treated, then all is well. But if not, the callous can become the commonplace and things can unravel very quickly indeed.