Perminder Gill

There are no words to describe the incredible care that Community staff nurse Perminder Gill gives to her patients.

So says Devyani Bhatt, the granddaughter of one of Perminder’s patients. Devyani is herself training to become a doctor, and recognises the compassion with which Perminder helped her family. She explained: “I have no words to describe the incredible care that Perminder gave to my grandmother.

“Whenever there was any change to her health she would come straight round to make sure she was okay and would be great to all of our family. She was a Godsend.”

Devyani’s grandfather echoed this sentiment and was moved to put pen to paper to ensure Perminder knew how much the care she gave his wife was valued. In his letter he said: “The list of qualities you have are magnificent. They include wisdom, inspired intellect, devotion, dedication, brilliant conversations, friendliness, gracious wit and humour, all while keeping the patient informed.”

Perminder (41) joined Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in 2009. After working with children and older people in her previous role in the mental health sector, Perminder decided to get into a profession where she could continue to progress her nursing skills, all while she followed her passion of working with palliative care patients.

She commented: “I have always worked with children and elderly people and was encouraged to take up nursing when I was working with dementia and Alzheimer patients.

“I find the palliative side very rewarding, and I have completed my competency checks in palliative care which helped me became a palliative care champion in our team.”

She is a shining example of how to ‘live’ the Trust’s 9 care promises, demonstrating how she goes the extra mile by overcoming any barriers to providing excellent care.

“I was asked to assess a patient where there were language barriers, as she only spoke very limited English. While I was assessing her I spoke in Hindi in a manner that both she and her relatives could understand,” she explained.

“This gave me chance to go beyond my role and explain everything in detail, making sure my consultations were translated to my patient’s first language, Gujarati.

The praise and thanks Perminder receives from her patients and families talks about the impressive way in which she addresses her patients’ problems.

“It is very rewarding to receive letters from patients because it enables me to hear directly that I have met the patient’s needs and have fulfilled my role to the best of my ability. I am happy to be making a difference to people’s lives,” she said.

Perminder, who is from Wednesfield, has learnt a lot while at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, and is looking forward to improving further to progress her career in the future.

“I have vastly enhanced my knowledge and skill since joining the Trust and I am very privileged to be in the position that I am.

“I think that in the future I would like to move into a more specialised area and develop these skills.”

Perminder doesn’t like to single out one person to class as a hero, as she believes that she has worked with numerous people who have made a big difference in her career.

“I have worked with many people I would describe as my heroes from my time in the Trust. I have had a lot of support and encouragement from my time out in the community and applaud the wonderful team I work with.”