Teams of staff who have moved into the new state-of-the-art Acute Medical Unit (AMU)at Walsall Manor Hospital have made sure a much-loved late colleague’s legacy stays with them.

A new commemorative plaque in memory of Staff Nurse Areema Nasreen has now taken pride of place on the relocated unit, which is housed in the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre.

Areema died in April 2020 after contracting COVID-19. She started as a Support Services Assistant on Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Acute Medical Unit (AMU) before becoming a Clinical Support Worker (CSW) prior to training as a Staff Nurse and never gave up on her dream to become a Nurse. She was known for her smile that colleagues say “lit up the room” and her compassion.

No-one could be happier to see the new plaque take pride of place than her colleague and friend Sheila Kerai who was awarded the first Scholarship in Areema’s memory. The Scholarship was established in Areema’s memory through the Trust’s Well Wishers charity, HR and Professional Development Unit.

Sheila started as a Trainee Nursing Associate in September 2021, combining working with one day a week paid-for study leave with her current role on AMU.

She will qualify as a Nursing Associate this August and be eligible to step on to year two of the BSc nursing degree once her two-year training programme has finished. All being well, she will become a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in August 2025.

Sheila said: “Areema may no longer be with us but the values she held dear – her dedication and her love for Nursing – inspire me every day in her memory.

“It’s only right that her beautiful smile is watching over us in AMU’s new home reminding us to be the best we can be for our patients and each other.”

Fellow AMU colleagues, Donna McKenzie and Malkit Bassi, CSWs, said: “We love the plaque, we’re glad she’s back with us.

“We think it’s a lovely tribute and it’s nice we’ve had a new plaque for a new build and that her family can keep the old one.  Areema was simply the best.”

Staff and patients moved into the Trust’s new Amu on 9 March this year. The multi-million-pound facility includes an Urgent Treatment Centre, Emergency Department including Resus and Rapid Assessment and Treatment area, and Children’s ED, co-located Paediatric Assessment Unit, Acute Medical Unit and provision for Frailty and Community Integrated Assessment services. Various specialist facilities are located throughout and all  areas have been designed specifically to enhance clinical staff efficiency, improve quality of care, improve patient experience, and improve the working environment for staff.