A tribute to Pat Haines | News

It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia (Pat) Haines, an outstanding and inspirational Clinical Nurse Specialist, who has died aged 74, after 56 years’ service to Royal Surrey.

Pat had worked for Royal Surrey since joining St Luke’s as a ​student nurse in 1966, aged 18. She was a dedicated and committed member of our Royal Surrey Family and continued to work for the Trust until her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer last August. Pat lost her battle with the disease on Tuesday 19 July ​and died at home surrounded by her husband Steven and daughters Sam and Nicola.

Staff from across the Trust will remember Pat’s enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge and expertise, her kindness and patience. ​In recent years Pat worked closely with Mr Andrew Kent, Consultant Gynaecologist, as a nurse hysteroscopist and has been an integral part of the team caring for women suffering with endometriosis. Simon Butler-Manuel, Consultant Surgeon in Gynaecological Oncology described the impact Pat had on himself and colleagues.

He said: “Pat was a dear friend to me and many others, and was much respected by all who had the pleasure of working with her. She was an outstanding theatre nurse, working as a night theatre sister when her children were young, before developing extended roles as a Research Nurse in Gynaecology, as one of the first BSGE registered Nurse hysteroscopists in the country, and also as a trained surgical first assistant. She excelled in all these roles.”

Pat also worked as a research nurse for Professor Chris Sutton, undertaking the world's first randomised controlled trial in endometriosis, investigating laser laparoscopy. Simon said: “Pat undertook all the follow-up appointments and interviews for the women in this ground-breaking study, which drew on her advanced communication skills and warm personality. The success and great acclaim of this study gave her the opportunity to travel quite widely, which she greatly enjoyed. Pat was a champion of women's health issues and a great ambassador for nursing, theatre practice, and Royal Surrey.”

Renata Hutt, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, worked with Pat closely for over 20 years within the NHS as well as local private hospitals where Pat made many close friendships with other surgeons and colleagues as a trained theatre assistant. She said: “Pat always had a fantastic human touch with our patients and a holistic view of patient care. Watching her talk to patients was inspiring, she was so human and respectful. As well as being a good listener, she was also wise and thoughtful and gave sound advice as a friend and a professional. She was an excellent mentor who supported me in my role as a Clinical Director. Her wisdom and diplomacy were amazing. She was a massive support to the department too, particularly as a nurse clinician and a trainer, guiding numerous research fellows, who worked in our department over the years, in their clinical and academic work.”

Amy Stubbs, Deputy Director of Midwifery and Head of Nursing, Women and Children’s Division who was Pat’s line manager for the last five years of her life said: “Pat was a wonderful role model and always hugely generous of her time. She shared so much of her knowledge with the nurses and healthcare assistants coming through our department on how to support clinical staff, on supporting women through difficult procedures and offering emotional support.

“Pat was an extremely skilled nurse. She was very calm, very compassionate and very patient. It was a real privilege to work with her. She will be greatly missed by the team, by her patients and all her colleagues across the Trust.”

We send our deepest condolences to Pat’s family at this sad time.