"She knew how much that reassurance would mean, and in that moment, it meant everything." | Meet July's Health Hero

31 July 2026

Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Sarah Harries has been recognised as this month's Health Hero for the invaluable reassurance she gave to a patient donating a kidney to her husband.

Sarah has worked at the University Hospital of Wales as a Consultant Anaesthetist for the past 25 years. Her specialities include providing pain relief and anaesthesia within maternity services and for patients undergoing live donor kidney transplant surgery.

Sarah was nominated by a senior midwife colleague who recently became her patient. The patient wrote: "In June 2026, I donated a kidney to my husband, via the National Sharing Scheme and Sarah was the anaesthetist for both of our transplant operations.

"As a healthcare professional, becoming the patient was one of the most daunting experiences of my life. Handing over control and putting your trust in someone else is incredibly difficult when you're used to being the one providing the care. The relief I felt when I knew Dr Sarah Harries would be looking after us is almost impossible to describe.”

Sarah explains: "The National Sharing Scheme allows donor and recipient pairs who are not a compatible transplant match to be linked with other similar pairs across the UK. It often involves three or four transplant centres, all operating on the same day, with the kidneys being transported between the different transplant centres after they've been removed.

"Invariably, the person that's donating and receiving the kidney always worries more about the other person in the partnership than themselves. On a sharing scheme day there is a natural delay, such that the patient receiving the kidney may not come to theatre until late afternoon or early evening, and that wait adds another layer of worry. I just try and make sure they understand the timeline for theatre and communicate as much information as possible outside of actually delivering the anaesthetic required."

The patient continued: "The success of our transplant journey is thanks to an incredible multidisciplinary team, but Sarah played such a significant part in making what could have been one of the most frightening days of our lives into one that was filled with confidence, compassion and reassurance.

“Although Sarah knew me as a colleague, she never once treated me as anything other than her patient. She never assumed I needed less explanation or reassurance because I work in healthcare. She took the time to explain everything, answer every question and make sure I felt informed, safe and genuinely cared for.

"Sarah worked above her scheduled hours that day, staying late to ensure my husband was safely through surgery and out of theatre. Knowing he was still in theatre while I was recovering was incredibly difficult, yet despite the long day she had already worked, Sarah came to the ward herself later that evening to update me.

"She knew how much that reassurance would mean, and in that moment, it meant everything."

Responding to the nomination, Sarah said: "Chronic renal failure is a very debilitating illness and impacts massively on families. The whole family benefits from the transplant going ahead because the recipient can usually return to their old lifestyle without the need for dialysis.

"What the donor is offering, it's the most altruistic thing you can ever do in life. I aim to ease the process as much as possible for them and try to allay their worry and anxiety on the day.

"I just love being part of a big multidisciplinary team, be it in maternity care or within the renal transplant centre in Cardiff. I feel incredibly humbled that they've recognised the anaesthetist to be such a significant part of their patient journey. It gives me a great sense of pride in what I do."

The patient ended the nomination: "Sarah represents everything you would hope to find in a healthcare professional. Her clinical expertise is outstanding, but it is her kindness, empathy and the way she makes people feel that truly sets her apart.

"As both a colleague and a patient, I have seen first-hand the difference she makes. Thank you will never seem enough for everything Sarah did for me, for my husband and for our family."

Health Hero is sponsored by Park Plaza Cardiff. As July’s Health Hero, Sarah will receive a Sunday lunch for two.

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!