A PAEDIATRIC nurse who adores her work has continually gone beyond what was expected of her to deliver the very best care possible to the young people at Barnsley Hospital.

Angela Taylor is the first nurse at the hospital to receive the Cavell Star Award, a special title for exceptional nurses, which she earned after caring for Sophia Jane Clarke, a young child who suffered with a variety of complex needs.

When Sophia was admitted to the children’s ward at Barnsley Hospital on June 7, the family were greeted by Angela Taylor a dedicated nurse who immediately did all she could to ensure everyone was comfortable.

Despite finishing her long night shift, she stayed for hours on the ward to support her parents Paul and Melanie and grandparents Roy and Sylvia, especially after Sophia died just a day after being admitted, aged 13.

Angela told the Chronicle: “I think you’ve just got to try and be yourself, one of the biggest things for me is that I try to treat people and their children as if that was my family.

“I treat them how I would like to be treated, that’s my basis of care and I just try my best.

“The thing about looking after children is they don’t worry about being ill you can play, you can distract them.

“Generally a lot of the time you need to look after the parents, reassuring them and explaining things to them.

“That’s a big part of our job, caring for parents.”

After her success earlier in the year, Angela is now hoping to take home a second award as she’s been shortlisted for the Carer of the Year award at this year’s Proud of Barnsley.

“When I got the Cavell award it was such a surprise, I had no idea at all,” she added.

“Sophia’s family and some of my family came out it was lovely.

“I was just overwhelmed to think that while they were grieving they’d go out to do something nice for me.

“It’s difficult to even understand because how can you do that when you’re going through so much they’re a really lovely family.”