Fertility support worker up for honour

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Going through fertility treatment can be tough with patients experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions.People desperate to have a child need all the help they can get - and that’s where health care support worker Kirsten Wilson comes in.

She has been nominated for Support Worker of the Year in the Scottish Health Awards, which are run by the Daily Record in partnership with NHS Scotland to recognise the work of some of the most dedicated staff in the country. “It’s a hard journey for anyone going through fertility treatment and does not always end in a happy ending for everyone, which is heart-breaking.

I try to help them get through it,” said Kirsten, 29, from Dalkeith.She has been at the Edinburgh Fertility Centre at the Royal Infirmary for four years and is now studying for a nursing degree through the Open University.“It’s interesting work as there are so many experts involved in helping people have a baby, from the embryologists to the doctors, nurses and laboratory staff.

I’ve stayed friends with some of the people who have gone through the treatment, whether they have been successful or not. A lot of patients come back to show their babies or send photos and videos, which is lovely.”Kirsten assists the doctors and nurses during scans and in the theatre where eggs are collected, or embryos implanted and makes sure the patients are comfortable.“The procedures are fascinating, and I wanted to do more to help the patients, which is why I’m training to be a nurse now.