Angel of the Year: Katie Bassett

HAVING consultant nurse for pain management Katie Bassett in Guernsey is a good thing for the island, said the person who has nominated her for the Ravenscroft-sponsored Angel of the Year award.

Janine Jacobson said Katie was the first in Guernsey to have a multi-disciplinary approach to the job.

They met more than 10 years ago: ‘I developed chronic pain following a surgical procedure and found this extremely debilitating,’ Mrs Jacobson said in her nomination.

‘A pain manager course led by Katie helped me to develop coping strategies, and she has always been there in challenging times, even when I am off-island.’

She said that on one occasion she was on holiday in Crete and started experiencing ‘some pretty horrible neuropathic pain’.

‘I emailed Katie and she advised me what to do,’ she said. ‘She advised me when I was in Italy as well.

‘The great thing about Katie is you never have to worry that she won’t contact you back. She’ll promise to contact you within 24-36 hours and I think that’s fantastic.’

Mrs Jacobson is a qualified nurse and midwife so has an insight into hospital and practices: ‘Katie really is involved in a multi-disciplinary situation so she works with the pain management psychologist, the specialist and the physiotherapist.’

Katie also became a prescribing nurse, allowing her to provide prescriptions for her patients.

‘She absolutely gives it her all,’ said Mrs Jacobson.

‘To have a person of her calibre on the island is a plus for Guernsey.’