'She continuously goes above and beyond to support in every way possible' | Meet April 2025's Health Hero

8 April 2025

Clinical Nurse Specialist Sarah Finch has been crowned April’s Health Hero for the compassionate care she provides to patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) - though Sarah herself would argue that it’s simply part of the job.

Sarah Finch has been a member of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board team for over 20 years, since qualifying as a nurse in 2003. As a student, she developed a passion for cardiology and has since held various roles in the department, specialising for the last decade as an Adult Congenital Heart Specialist nurse.

“Congenital Heart Disease is a condition you're born with,” Sarah explains. “It affects about one in 125 babies, just under 1% of the birth rate. It's a lifelong condition so we seldom discharge patients as we know long-term complications and challenges can arise.

“We support people from transition to adult services, when they're going through college, making life choices - career decisions or the family planning side of things and then as they get older and at the end of life. We are there as a point of contact throughout life.

“As nurses, we get to know our patients and their families incredibly well. You build that rapport and relationship, which is crucially important at times when there are complications or concerns.”

Sarah was nominated by Natalie Dean, whose husband, Christopher, is an ACHD patient. He recently went through some significant health challenges and Sarah’s support proved incredibly important to the couple. Natalie said: “Sarah supported not just my husband but myself through the hardest time of our lives. She continuously goes above and beyond to support in every way possible.

“We received bad news after bad news and Sarah was there every single step of the way and has supported us whenever we have needed it. She has sat with me outside in the freezing cold by the lake, talking everything through and listening to my worries after she had sat with my husband on the ward doing the same thing.”

When asked about her motivation to go ‘above and beyond’, Sarah replied: “I don't see it as going above and beyond. I always approach care for my patients in the same way I would expect my family to be treated. When people are going through really challenging, uncertain, frightening times, if we can be there to make a difference, I think that it’s an essential part of the job.”

“I come to work, like everyone in healthcare I hope, to make a difference and to have a positive impact. If I can do that, I don't see it necessarily as above and beyond. I'm just pleased that I was able to be there to support Natalie and Chris, because I hope if I was in that position someone would have the same capacity to support me.”

Natalie said: “She is so understanding, friendly, approachable. Sarah’s smile and positivity make you feel reassured as soon as you see her. She is an amazing, inspirational woman and deserves this award massively.”

Sarah credits her team for enabling her to be able to provide the care for Christopher and Natalie: “I wouldn't be able to deliver that level of care if I didn't have the team behind me, still answering the phones, attending clinics and doing the other really important aspects of the role. I was able to be that person for Natalie and Chris, but another member of the team might be that person for a different patient in a different situation. It really is a team approach. We have such a caring, compassionate, supportive multi-disciplinary team and they are fantastic to work with”.

“With Congenital Heart Disease and cardiology as a whole, you're learning something new every day. There are always new developments, new technologies. There are over 40 different congenital heart conditions. Some of them are very straightforward but some are hugely complex in how we treat and care for patients. It's changing and evolving all the time, which is really exciting. We're always doing new things and innovating within the team. I've been doing the role almost 10 years now and it still feels fresh.”

Health Hero is kindly sponsored by Park Plaza Cardiff and Sarah will receive a spa-treatment.

Do you know a staff member who has gone above and beyond to provide outstanding care? Say thank you by nominating them as a Health Hero!