Sarah Kent posthumously recognised at end of life care awards

A member of St Christopher’s community nursing team has posthumously been honoured at an awards event recognising best end of life care practice.

Sarah Kent, Clinical Nurse Specialist, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday 20 July 2024.

Sarah was a kind, generous, calm, gentle, genuine, and thoughtful colleague who had a lovely sense of humour.

She was recognised with a special mention at the Daffodil Standards Awards 2024 on Friday 4 October by Dr Sarah Holmes, Chief Medical Officer at Marie Curie.

A photo of Sarah was displayed at the awards ceremony, which is organised in collaboration between the Royal College of General Practitioners and Marie Curie.

Sarah’s parents, on behalf of her family, said: “We have always been so proud of Sarah and all that she achieved. To have Sarah recognised at these awards is hugely comforting and a fitting tribute to the dedication that she showed others throughout her career.”

Sarah came to St Christopher’s in 2017 with a wealth of experience in her role as a nurse manager in care homes. Her natural affinity working with people with frailty and dementia led her to the hospice where she worked on the wards and then developed her skills by undertaking a discharge coordinator role. She then moved from the inpatient unit to her role in the community.

Sarah was always ready to guide newcomers and people didn’t need to know her long to feel that she was a friend.

Nursing colleagues have talked about her kindness to them in their early days at St Christopher’s with Sarah taking them under her wing and giving constant support.

At the event, two of Sarah’s colleagues were recognised as highly commended in their categories.

Learning Disability Clinical Nurse Specialist Phoebe Mooney was highly commended in the Clinical Team Member of the Year category and Dr Natasha Richards was similarly recognised in the Trainee of the Year category.

Paying tribute to Sarah, St Christopher’s Care Director Amanda Mayo said:

“Sarah left a lasting impression on patients and families. A colleague has spoken of Sarah’s impact on a recent patient. The only interaction this patient had with St Christopher’s was with Sarah – the family were so grateful for her care and made a generous donation to the hospice.

“Sarah could not have been prouder to become a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in April this year. This was so well deserved.  Not a huge fan of studying, she undertook courses in Dementia and Frailty but it was her empathetic and compassionate nature that made her the perfect fit for a role as CNS for Care Homes.

“Working on a Hospice UK national project on extending care for people with frailty, her colleagues saw her confidence soar – speaking in front of groups of people and teaching others how to connect with people with dementia. The Hospice UK team has also praised her in relation to the project and a CNS colleague is completing the project as a tribute to Sarah.

“Outside work, her partner, family and friends were what mattered most to Sarah and she loved dancing.

“It is a testament to Sarah touching so many areas of the hospice that around a hundred people including her family came to the hospice garden to celebrate her life and to remember her following her untimely death.”