Jill Barker receives CUH ‘You Made a Difference’ Award for the second time

The ‘You Made a Difference’ Awards aims to reward and recognise both teams and individual staff members who have 'made a difference' to patients, visitors or colleagues. Roland Sinker, Chief Executive of the CUH Foundation Trust, presented Jill with the award, saying that it was very moving and powerful hearing from both patients, families and colleagues about the extraordinary contributions that she is making. 

One of her nominators, whose husband has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, said of Jill: “Nothing is too much trouble, she even called on her day off to offer to escort my husband to the Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre Unit for an endoscopy as he wasn’t sure where to go.” 

Her second nomination was from a pancreatic cancer patient currently undergoing chemotherapy: “Jill comes in to the Day Centre every time when she is in the hospital. This make so much difference to see and be able to chat to someone who knows what the patients are going through… I’ve never seen her without a smile, and usually a funny quip, which makes me laugh… She is a complete gem.” 

Her Addenbrooke’s colleague mentioned “it’s great having Jill as part of the nursing team, I think she is a fabulous nurse.” 

Another of her colleagues, who met Jill when two of her close family members were diagnosed with cancer said Jill supported her entire family: “She sat with my sister in chemo and made her laugh… it is a natural ability that Jill has, to be able to sit with people and know exactly what to say”. 

Jill added that it was a pleasure to get to know the patients and their families too, and she wanted to thank all her colleagues as they work together as a team. 

Well done, and thank you Jill, for the support and compassion that you provide to patients and their families, and humour that you bring to brighten people’s days. 

You can view the full recording of the award presentation here (from 12:25).