People’s Choice Award Winner, Catherine

(Unfortunately I’m not allowed to take a photograph with Catherine as it goes against their policy so there won’t be a photo)

I have known you since my first admission in Queen Mary’s Hospital

Coming across a good nurse is like gold dust

You’re always so productive

And when on one on one with me due to escaping

You don’t just sit there but take notes with me

On a night shift

I don’t know how you do it

Dedication to your job is so admirable

I love your smile

At four in the morning

Taking extensive notes about how anti medication I am

Where I think it all went wrong

When I was seventeen

Did the team even read your notes?

Dealing with the insane isn’t an easy job

I did apply for Psychiatric Nursing at Kings 

But having said I wanted to change the entire system

I didn’t get a place

It is hard to not get into Psychiatric Nursing

I would find it so hard to administer the medication

And especially the forced depot injections

Knowing how it feels to be forced to take that poison

I do notice the positives, the benefits

But my goodness, the side effects we are all dealing with

I don’t think you can really appreciate how little we want to take them

Unless you have been on them

But Catherine

I would like to put you forward for the Award again

You go above and beyond

Sometimes having to deal with abuse from the patients 

But day in and day out for decades

You have shown up

And dealt with countless patients

Such a maternal figure

Such a warm, friendly demeanour 

I will always have fond memories of you

I know you said you never wanted to see me again

Because you don’t wish for me to be admitted again

Thank you for listening 

And taking the time to really express how I was feeling

If only the medication could actually be medicine 

And you were administering something that didn’t contain

Such horrible adverse side effects

Those cuddles

How can they not be allowed?

It doesn’t make any sense

If the nurses were to strike

Who are vastly underpaid

The NHS would fall apart

You are the backbone of the entire health system

Thank you for being you

Everything you do never goes unnoticed

And I will forever remember you

And sing your praises