A much-loved north Herts institution has been celebrating after one of its hard-working employees has been recognised in the Queens honours list.

Jayne Dingemans, director of patient services at Garden House Hospice Care has been awarded a British Empire Medal by the Crown for her hands-on service to our community during the Covid crisis.

Upon receiving the award, Jayne said: "I am honoured to be awarded a British Empire Medal by the Crown in the Queen's birthday honours list for contribution to the coronavirus response.

"I would never have expected to receive a reward for the work that I do and love every day, even in the most unprecedented of times.

"The award is a testament to the staff and volunteers at Garden House Hospice Care who have worked so hard to make this happen.

"Coronavirus has highlighted the work that hospices do and have been doing across the country to support their community and the wider health and social care system."

During the pandemic, Jayne demonstrated exceptional leadership, ensuring staff remain focussed on shared organisational values, identity and purpose ensuring hospice patients, at home and in their in-patient unit received the best care possible.

Jayne also initiated collaboration with care homes, delivering specialist education and patient support, directing rapid retraining and redeployment of non-clinical hospice staff to the frontline, increasing the hospice's specialist offer to the NHS.

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Jayne also led the team that secured Garden House's outreach services, supporting children and families, and those isolated, lonely and frail.

A Garden House spokesperson added: "We're thrilled to announce that Jayne is an outstandingly dedicated, compassionate and experienced professional whose wealth of expertise in palliative care is highly respected by peers and colleagues in the hospice community."

Read Nub News over the coming weeks for more on the superb work the Garden House Hospice does in our community.

We hope you join us in congratulating Jayne on this fantastic and very well-deserved achievement.