Thanking the lifesaving paramedics – Leanne’s story
Media Director of TAP - Thank And Praise
Research suggests there is a link between gratitude and positive mental wellbeing. Just telling someone they’ve done a good job, or have really helped you, can make you both feel better. In this blog, Patrick Melville, the Media Director of TAP – Thank And Praise, shares the story of a woman who reached out to thank the men who saved her mother, and the impact it had on their lives.
In many industries, it is so much easier to find ways to complain than to praise a worker or co-worker. But saying ‘thank you’ is important. TAP – Thank And Praise was launched to answer this problem, helping people to know when and how to send a message of thanks to key workers.
Since 2019, TAP has been providing a quick and easy way to say thanks through their digital channels. They have collected thousands of message of thanks for workers all around the UK.
There is no better way to demonstrate this change than this positive story about a member of the public who wanted to praise and acknowledge the paramedicsThe Ambulance Staff Charity’s mental health resources Even during the COVID-19 crisis, ambulance staff must deal with traumatic situations every day. The Ambulance Staff Charity have collated a number of resources to support your mental health during this time. By: The Ambulance Staff Charity View resource who saved her mum’s life but did not know their names nor how to find them.
In November 2021, Leanne from Warwickshire experienced a traumaSelf support techniques after a traumatic incident Healthy processing of traumatic incidents is essential in policing to reset your stress response, to file events as past, and to move on to the next job. This guide can help. By: Police Dependants’ Trust View resource when her mother suddenly had an aneurysm. The local West Midlands ambulance servicesManaging stress and anxiety (Ambulance) Mind have created this PDF booklet to explore some of the causes of stress and anxiety for the ambulance service, and have brought together some tips to help you cope better at work. By: Mind View resource were immediately called in and took them to Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital where her mother received treatment.
Once her mother was safe, Leanne wanted to thank the paramedics but she did not know their names, nor how to contact them. She used TAP’s digital platform to send her message to the paramedics. TAP received the message and shared it with the hospital, posted it on their website and shared the story with the local media.
They cared and they had compassion
Here is Leanne’s message of thanks:
TO: Two Male Paramedics at Warwick Hospital (West Midlands Paramedics)
I didn’t manage to get the names of the two male Paramedics that saved my mum’s life. Everything was so surreal. My mum had an aneurysm and I had to rush home from college. It was probably one of the worst days of my life. I thought I was going to lose my mumDealing with death and grief: Dying Matters COVID-19 is causing many people to die before their time. This can be very distressing for those who work with vulnerable people, who not only may feel bereaved themselves but may also have to support patients' friends and family. This guide can help. By: Hospice UK / Dying Matters View resource and the reality is, if they didn’t arrive, I would have. It’s not just how they saved my mum’s life. It’s the way in which they made me feel less lonely, more comforted. They made my mum feel safe. They cared and they had compassion. I want to be a paramedic, and they’ve really put into perspective why it is that I want to do that career.
This message was put on the TAP website under their Healthcare organisation Thank You Wall.
When anyone sends a message of thanks it is hard to know the positive impact it can give. That is why TAP provides their ‘Thank You’ walls on their website so that for anyone can read a message of thanks, at any time.
TAP also shared Leanne’s message with the local BBC Radio station – BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire – to help find the paramedics. You can listen to this interview here.
Another radio station, Free Radio (Coventry and Warwickshire), shared Leanne’s message and were able to track down and interview one of the paramedics, Stuart. TAP told Leanne of this interview where Stuart shared his experience about receiving positive messages. It brought more smiles and messages of thanks through TAP when listeners heard about the positive impact that Leanne’s message of thanks brought to the paramedics.
The Healthcare Assistant working on Ward 42 had a huge impact on my mum
Leanne also followed up with a message of thanks to the wardDavid Corbin talks about mental health in the healthcare sector David Corbin is Dorset Healthcare’s Diversity and Equality. Here David talks about the importance of treating your own staff as potential service users too. By: Dorset Mind View resource where her mother was taken to:
To: Ward 42, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, NHS
The Healthcare Assistant working on Ward 42, who aspires to be a Paramedic, had a huge impact on my mum and on us too. He was wonderful with her, always being so kind and going that extra step. He will make a great and memorable paramedic. Also, the surgeon Dr Chong, who explained everything so well and really put us all at ease.
Saying thanks is a strong currency for positive mental health – both for the thanker and the recipient. TAP is providing a way how to help communities and organisations support the mental health of workers all around the country – just like Stuart, Leanne and her mother.
Anyone can send a message of thanks to any key worker, team or organisation via TAP. Just download the new TAP App on iOS and Android by searching for ‘TAP Thank and Praise’ on the App Stores. More information can be found on the TAP Website.
