Melissa has worked in neurosciences for over 30 years. She has been the ward sister on the Neurosciences unit for 20 years and has not only seen the vast changes in the delivery of care with new and novel therapies over her time but has also led many of these projects and changes. Melissa has advanced her own clinical skills having studied at Master's level, obtaining qualifications in advanced assessment and differential diagnosis of children, this has enabled her to impart her knowledge to those she works with on a daily basis, whilst also maintaining patient safety of those in her care.

Melissa is a personable, friendly, approachable, and supportive member of the team who is very much valued. She starts each day on shift, getting to know the patients and their families, often with an offer of a cup of tea and a chat. In doing this, she is able to establish how the ward and staff are doing. Melissa is a face that has been known for many years following discharge. There are families returning to see Melissa and see how she is doing in the ward. Many of these children are no longer children but adults with families of their own.

Melissa has seen the changes wrung in by COVID-19 and has witnessed the changes in nurse training, nursing roles, patient acuity, and new diseases. She is the epitome of the neuroscience role model in nursing, with many nurses aspiring to be like Melissa, she never has a cross word to say, always sees the good in everything and is happiest when clinical and on the shop floor. She likes to be surrounded by her team, patients, and their families, always striving to ensure that standards are met and delivered.

She is passionate about supporting, educating and training the staff on the wards and is willing to find new ways of working, adapting new ways of learning and imparting her own knowledge and skills to anyone who will listen. Melissa has such profound respect from the families, medical and surgical teams, admin teams but most importantly from the nursing team.