Healthcare leader praises Clandon Ward for compassionate, skilful care | News

“I have spent my life since 1986 in and around the NHS and I visit a lot of hospitals. Clandon Ward was the best led and most patient-focused environment I believe I have experienced in all of this time. They cared for my dad with the very highest level of respect and care, and did all they could to maintain his dignity.”

Donna Ockenden’s father Cleighton Thomas was a patient on Royal Surrey’s specialist head and neck surgical ward, Clandon Ward, in February 2023, where he and his family were supported throughout his end-of-life care.

Donna nominated the team on Clandon for a Patients’ Choice award, one of the categories in Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust’s annual staff awards. They were announced as the winner at the award event last month.

Donna is a respected and high-profile healthcare leader with more than 35 years’ NHS experience, who leads reviews on maternity services in England. She visited Clandon Ward on a daily basis while her father was in their care, continuing to work from his bedside in her current role as Chair of the Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. She said:  

“Spending the amount of time I did at the ward I was able to see the high levels of nursing and multi professional expertise, not just for my father but for other patients and their families too. I spoke to so many other families who were so grateful and positive about the levels of compassion, kindness, skill and dedication of the Clandon team.

“The reason why Clandon Ward is so special to me is they cared for my dad with the very highest level of respect and care. They did all they could to maintain his dignity and care for his personal needs and appearance in the way that he would have done if he’d still been able to care for himself.

“Ward environments like Clandon do not just happen, they occur because of outstanding leadership. On behalf of the many families who are supported by Clandon Ward, my family and my beloved father thank you. You filled his last months with the care and compassion that he so very deserved. I will never forget you.”

Clandon Ward, based at Royal Surrey hospital in Guildford, is a regional centre for head and neck cancer patients and provides expert medical and nursing care for patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery, and ear, nose and throat surgery. Reena George, Senior Sister on Clandon Ward, said:

“I’m so proud of the hard work and dedication shown by my team and this is a wonderful acknowledgement of that. We are excited to have been recognised in this way and are very grateful for Donna’s kind nomination. It’s a real motivation for us for the future.”

The team from Clandon Ward was presented with their Patients’ Choice award 2024 at the Trust’s Royal Surrey Stars annual staff awards ceremony at Guildford’s Harbour Hotel. It was one of 19 awards presented to Royal Surrey colleagues throughout the evening.

The Royal Surrey Stars ceremony was fully funded by sponsors, including the Trust’s hospital portering, domestics and catering provider, Medirest, and CBRE, who provide the Trust with essential facilities and maintenance services.