Two members of the Home First Team have earned themselves a British Empire Medal for services to health and social care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the start of the outbreak, Deborah Jackson and her colleague Claire Duffy worked with staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital to support the discharging of patients to provide additional capacity for those suffering the worst effects of COVID-19.

The Home First Team works on the ethos that home is the best and first option when discharging people, particularly the elderly from hospital – and Deborah worked tirelessly with patients, staff and their families to build the necessary relationships to make this happen.

Wearing PPE, Deborah continued to work within the wards, communicating closely with staff and patients and this contributed to the partnership reducing their delayed patients by more than 50 per cent.

Working long hours, well into the evenings and weekends, Deborah went above and beyond any employment requirements by personally supporting the bridging of care packages in addition to her work in the hospital.

A dedicated worker at all times, she excelled herself during the pandemic, her work and contribution was said to be outstanding and exceptional.

Deborah said: “I just feel overwhelmed – it’s just such a huge honour to be recognised along with our community partners. Everyone has pulled together to ensure people were safe and had everything they needed during the pandemic.

“It was a real privilege to be working with the teams I worked with.”

Text and photo courtesy of Falkirk Herald