York nurse wins Patients’ Choice Award (From York Press)

Nurse Ellie Hodge wins Claire Rayner Patients’ Choice Award

8:55am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Haydn Lewis, haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk

A NURSE from York has won this year’s Patients’ Choice Award for her work with cancer patients.

York Hospital chemotherapy nurse Ellie Hodge, 30, was one of four finalists in the running for this year’s Claire Rayner Patients’ Choice Award after being nominated for giving hope and making the gruelling treatment her patients go through bearable.

Ellie, who lives in Acomb with her primary school teacher husband, Tim, received her award – which includes a prize of £500 – at a ceremony at London’s Victoria And Albert Museum. It was presented by Claire Rayner’s son, Adam, who is a motoring journalist.

Ellie said: “I’m so chuffed. It was a lovely evening and a lovely day and I’m still a bit shocked to say the least. I just felt so fortunate to be there and to hear some of the other nurses’ stories was really quite inspirational.”

Ellie was nominated by two York patients; Kathryn Cook, of Haxby, and Rebecca Hastie, of Rawcliffe, who have both been given the all-clear from cancer.

Mrs Cook, who was treated for an unusual form of the disease, said: “Ellie was the first healthcare professional who treated me like a real human being rather than an interesting statistic. She would never say she is deserving of this award, or that she even does a thing to warrant it, but the fact is that she made an unbearable time in my life bearable.”

As well as giving information and practical advice tailored to her specific needs, Ellie made special arrangements to enable Mrs Cook’s three-year-old son, Charlie, to be with her as much as possible during her hospital appointments. Two years on, the nurse still keeps in touch with her former patients.

Ellie has also co-written and helped to produce an award-winning ten-minute DVD that is given to patients before they start their treatment.