Our children’s ward at Queen’s Hospital and our Complex Discharge Coordinator have received awards for the outstanding care they gave to a young patient and her family.

Tropical Lagoon and Jenny Clancy were nominated for You Made a Difference awards by Aniqa and Sahid, whose daughter Kayla was cared for by the team and sadly passed away.

Tropical Lagoon cared for Kayla for 16 months after she was transferred to us shortly after birth and the team went above and beyond to provide exceptional care for Kayla and her family.

In the nomination, Aniqa said:

They showed incredible passion and kindness in everything they did. Even on the hardest days, they would come to her bedside with smiles, cuddles, and gentle words. You could feel the love they had for her, it wasn’t just their job, it came from the heart.

“They were always so helpful with everything, no matter how big or small. They supported me and Kayla’s dad through every decision, always listening to us and making sure our voices were heard. They treated us as part of the team and respected that we knew our little girl best. They also cared for us as parents, checking in on us, making sure we ate, encouraging us to rest, and simply being there to talk when we were struggling. We spent long days and nights on the ward, and their kindness and support got us through.

Working closely with the team on the ward and supporting Kayla’s parents, Jenny Clancy coordinated care for Kayla since the first day she arrived at Queen’s.

Kayla’s parents said:

Jenny handled every detail of Kayla’s journey with such care and dedication. She managed her discharge plans, transfers, continuing care packages, end-of-life planning, GOSH support, and even helped us with housing issues, all while making sure we understood every single step. Nothing was ever too much for her. She took the time to explain things clearly when we were overwhelmed or confused, always making sure we felt informed and involved.

“Her passion and commitment were extraordinary. She fought for us at every turn, whether it was to get the right care in place for Kayla, to make sure we were properly supported at home, or to ensure we were never left feeling alone. When she was on annual leave, we genuinely missed her because she had become such an important and reassuring presence in our lives.

If you know someone who has made a difference in our hospitals, then you can nominate them for our You Made a Difference award.