A Very Special Wedding
Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Samantha Sanders and Community Staff Nurse Tracey Holland from our Larwood and Bawtry Intergrated Care Team recently went above and beyond for one of their patients.
He was referred to Samantha with end stage heart failure and one of his final wishes was to marry his long-term partner. At the initial visit they asked Samantha if this would be possible. Rising to the challenge Samantha contacted Nottinghamshire County Council, as this is not something that she has had to arrange in a Community Setting previously and with the additional factors of COVID 19 to consider, she needed some guidance. A medical report from the Patient GP was required which through excellent integrated working relationships was urgently completed.
Unfortunately, the patient’s condition deteriorated, showing symptoms of COVID, as a housebound patient there were delays in being able to obtain the necessary swab test. Again, working together with the integrated local services Samantha arranged for a swab from Bassetlaw Urgent Care Service and the Community Nursing Team carried out the test.
The wedding was planned for the following Monday with the Registry Office supporting by agreeing to special circumstances with a registered nurse being available to officiate the ceremony. The COVID test result was chased with the Pathology and thankfully a negative result was given.
Over the weekend the patient’s condition deteriorated further, Community Staff Nurse Tracey Holland had agreed to perform the ceremony, and this took place on the Sunday. The couple exchanged their vows and rings in front of two family members and enjoyed a happy joyous occasion in difficult times.
Both Tracey and Samantha felt honoured and privileged to have been part of the Wedding Ceremony and in making a patient last wish come true.
