Celebrating Diane Martin, receptionist at Freeman Hospital

This a very special blog for a very special lady. I doubt when people recall their caregiver in hospital that many recall a receptionist. But Diane is one very special lady. Diane Martin works on reception in cardio x-ray at the Freeman, a department all transplant patients visit many times. Diane sits behind her desk in the small department with a framed certificate by her side, a personal touch award of which she is so deserving.

I know Diane from working with her as a nurse and from our perspective she’s a total gem, always asking after us as well as the patients, happy to switch the x-ray list about at a moment’s notice to help us out and pretty much the ray of sunshine in our days! But when I sat down to write this blog I also wanted to get some quotes from patients. Turning to Facebook I got about 50 comments in one day and now I’m going to do my best to turn them all into a small blog about our Diane.

The resounding message from all of the comments is that Diane remembers everyone’s names. Every single person, patients, staff, the relatives – just how does she do it? It’s an amazing skill Diane has which immediately makes everyone who meets her feel extremely special. And she is special to all Freeman transplant patients. Diane is one of a kind, the friendliest receptionist you will ever meet, waiting ready with a smile and to ask how you are. She is medicine when you’re feeling fed up, ready with hugs when covid permits.

While Diane is one of life’s treasures because she is so unique and wonderful she is also hugely professional, dedicated to her job and empathetic to her patients. One of my favourite quotes was that she ‘makes your visit sparkle, leaves you with a huge smile and feeling of love.’ Clearly no one was short of words to describe just how fantastic she is and I was so pleased to be able to pop down in my lunch break to make an extra visit to Diane to take her photo for this blog. She wanted her hair and lipstick to look perfect, and of course they did. Diane’s son showed her some of the comments, she cried, and he told her he’s so proud to have her as his mother – and who wouldn’t be!

Everyone should be trained how to be like Diane!