I wanted to write to say thank you to the anonymous patient who took the time to nominate Critical Care Outreach Sister Sarah Goodhew for your Local Hero Award (Argus, November 1).

The patient describes the positive difference Sarah’s care made, during what sounds like an extremely frightening few hours for this lady and her partner, when she was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with a severe asthma attack.

As nurses we know that a kind word, reassuring smile and someone to hold their hand when they are feeling a bit scared is what makes the biggest difference to how our patients feel about their stay in hospital.

It is a real boost for us all when someone takes the time to highlight when we have got this as right as Sarah clearly did for this patient, and say thank you.

Sherree Fagge, Chief Nurse Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust