Debbie’s dedication is recognised with an award

A support worker who has dedicated more than 30 years to caring for patients across east Kent has been recognised with an award.

Debbie Towe was named Outstanding Support Worker at the East Kent Hospitals Celebration Awards, after being described as ‘all that is good about the NHS’.

The mum and grandmother works in the haematology department at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, supporting patients with blood diseases and blood cancers, and is so popular people often ask for her by name.

But her career could have been very different, as she originally thought she was applying to work as a housekeeper in the hospital.

Debbie, 56, said: “I had been doing some part-time work around the children but wanted to do something a bit more fulfilling so I went to a coffee morning that I thought was to recruit domestic staff.

“But it turned out to be for healthcare assistants. I was already there so I thought I might as well go for it, and I’ve never looked back.

“I love the contact with patients and I’ve always enjoyed the work – there’s never a day I don’t look forward to going to work.”

Debbie supports outpatient clinics at the hospital, welcoming patients and carrying out blood tests and other routine observations. She also helps care for people during often painful bone marrow procedures, keeping them distracted and comfortable.

She was nominated for the award by her colleagues, who said: “Debbie embodies all that is good about the NHS, what we should be doing and how we should be working for our patients.

“She goes above and beyond for patients in our department. Nobody goes through our department without a cheerful greeting, an offer of a drink, a helping hand or a kind word. We don’t know how we ever managed without her.”

Debbie said: “We are so lucky to have such a fantastic team and we really get to know our patients.

“It has its ups and downs, and it can be difficult at time, but so can nursing anywhere.

“I love being able to spend time with the patients and helping to keep them relaxed at what can be a very stressful time.

“It does get very busy but I wouldn’t change it for the world. The team have given me my confidence back after I was finding it tough on the wards and it is a real privilege to be able to do what I do.”