FOR all their help managing her diabetes, these two city NHS workers are Audrey Woodcock’s Hospital Heroes.

The teaching assistant has nominated Dr Katharine Owen and specialist nurse Amanda Webster for our Hospital Heroes award.

We are looking for one outstanding individual and team from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust who make an outstanding contribution to patient care.

Mrs Woodcock, a grandmother of three, had been treated for type 1 diabetes with tablets for about 20 years.

This was managed at The Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) at the Churchill Hospital.

However it was found that Mrs Woodcock actually had a form of diabetes called Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) when she took part in a clinical trial five years ago.

This is a rare form of diabetes that is inherited and caused by a mutation in a single gene, giving sufferers’ children a 50 per cent chance of getting it. Only one to two per cent of people with diabetes have this form.

After the discovery, Mrs Woodcock’s treatment was changed to just insulin and is overseen by the two centre staff.

Mrs Woodcock, who works at Isis Academy, Iffley Village, said: “Nine times out of ten I am lucky enough to see them together and this has made a big difference to my diabetes care and understanding of it.

“They work so well together. They are both always welcoming and cheerful. I find them both helpful, kind, very supportive and most importantly they listen.

“Between clinic appointments I know I can call Amanda for help and if she is unable to take my call she always rings back and helps when I get things wrong.

“Whenever I thank them for their help and support they always say it’s what they’re there for. I feel they go above and beyond doing their jobs.

“Having them look after me has made me feel better about myself and more in control of my diabetes.”

Ms Webster said: “It’s humbling to be nominated and we are really touched. What we do is more than a job to us, so to be nominated by Audrey is lovely.”

Consultant Physician Dr Owen added: “We feel very lucky to be able to build a relationship with patients and we have been seeing Audrey for nearly 10 years. We talk diabetes, but we talk about other things as well and that gives a lot back to us a clinicians.”

We have teamed up with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust to honour outstanding individuals and teams.

Readers can nominate any employee from the trust, which also runs Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals and Banbury’s Horton General.

Winners will be revealed as part of the trust’s annual staff awards in December.

Go to oxfordmail.co.uk/ news/hospitalheroes

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