Sharon Gill 45 works for NHS Lothian at the Western General. While she was on a night out her professional skills swung into action and she helped an elderly lady who had a nasty head injury in the street.

The 87 year-old had fallen and cracked her head which was bleeding.

Sharon Gill

Recognising that the woman needed vital help, Sharon went to her aid and directed relatives and police officers at the scene. She made sure that the woman remained both conscious and breathing until emergency services arrived.

Sharon said: ā€œIf I see someone that needs my help like that, I would never walk away for anything. Itā€™s my job, even outside of working hours.

ā€œI always try to think, what if this was happening to me or one of my loved ones? I would want someone to step up and help. Thatā€™s how I always think about my patients as well.

ā€œI just hope the lady is alright now.

ā€œYou should always stop and help, even if youā€™re not sure how. Sometimes just holding someoneā€™s hand and asking them if theyā€™re alright can make a world of difference.ā€

Although Sharon may have been a reluctant hero, her actions were commended by the police officers who worked with her throughout the incident.Ā They wrote to the anaesthetic practitionerā€™s managers the following day to praise her ā€œoutstandingā€ actions.

In the letter sent to Sharonā€™s managers, the police officer in attendance during this incidence said: ā€œI wanted to pass my thanks on to Sharon, but also highlight the assistance which she provided during the incident, which was outstanding. Sharon is a credit to you and your team and we were very grateful for her assistance in dealing with the matter.ā€

Sharon, who mostly works with breast cancer patients at the Western General Hospital, didnā€™t tell her colleagues how her night out took a dramatic turn.

But when Lorraine Murray, the clinical lead for the department, received the letter, she wasnā€™t surprised that Sharon had been singled out for praise.

She said: Ā ā€œThis is just so Sharon. She always goes above and beyond for everyone. She takes care of every patient that comes into the hospital as if she knows them personally.

ā€œShe comes in when she has annual leave or even on her birthday, to support her patients when she knows that they need her.ā€

Sharon Gill
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.