Harefield Hospital ward clerk nominated in ‘Health Hero’ awards

General health

Julie Donovan, echocardiogram coordinator at Harefield Hospital, was recently nominated for a Health Hero Award. 

The award, launched earlier in the year by former Prime Minister David Cameron, provides recognition to special people in the Healthcare sector who have made a real difference to the lives of patients and their families.

Julie was nominated for her boundless support and incredible kindness to patients and their loved ones at Harefield Hospital. She initially joined the hospital as a receptionist in March 1998. She then progressed onto ward clerk in 2000, before becoming coordinator of the echocardiogram unit.

During her time at Harefield Hospital, Julie has undertaken duties that are way beyond the usual boundaries of ward clerk, from inviting lonely relatives out for tea to doing the laundry for families stranded by medical emergency. Once, she even researched and booked a local venue for a Harefield Hospital patient who didn’t want his wife to miss out on a 40th birthday party.

One patient who can attest to Julie’s genuine spirit is Graham Jordan. Graham, a retired fencing contractor from Harefield, developed pneumonia 18 months after having a heart transplant. He came to Harefield Hospital in a great deal of pain, full of worry for his devoted wife, Yvonne and anxiety about his deteriorating health.

Graham recounts: "I was feeling so ill that Yvonne had to beg me to go into hospital. When we got to the ward, this lovely lady turned to me with the warmest of smiles, and said with a twinkle: 'Come on Graham, there's a room for you here - a sea view!'"

"She was joking, of course, because we were miles from the sea. But it made me smile for the first time in weeks. She opened her arms in a gesture of welcome and her warmth just enveloped me." This was the start of a 16-year friendship between Graham and Julie.

Following a virus that damaged the muscles of his heart, Graham, 76, had a heart transplant at Harefield Hospital in December 1995. He still goes to the hospital every three weeks for blood tests and monitoring.

Since the day they met, Julie has been a constant presence in Graham’s care journey. She regularly calls Yvonne to see how Graham is feeling, sends the couple Christmas cards and often pops over for a cup of tea, and to provide support. Graham concludes: "Julie's kindness knows no bounds."

The Health Hero Award ceremony took place in June 2014, and Julie was thrilled to have been nominated. She praised her colleagues for their support and hard work, saying:

"I love my job. I work with such fantastic people. We are a real good team. Harefield is a fantastic hospital and a brilliant place to work. I can't see myself ever working anywhere else."