Honouring a legacy: The Sarah Henshaw Award for Clinical Excellence
In May of this year, our clinical community lost a respected colleague and friend when Sarah Henshaw, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, sadly passed away.
In recognition of the exceptional values Sarah embodied, so closely aligned with Myeloma UK’s mission, we are proud to introduce a new award for clinical excellence in her name.
For those who did not have the opportunity to get to know Sarah, she was an exceptional person whose kindness, compassion and generosity shaped her work as a highly respected Clinical Nurse Specialist. Sarah left a lasting impact in all she did and was deeply committed to improving patient-centred care through clinical excellence. This award will recognise a CSEP-accredited team who exemplify Sarah’s values – demonstrating outstanding innovation or a deeply person-centred approach.
Sarah’s knowledge, expertise and her unwavering advocacy made her a valued member of Myeloma UK’s Board of Trustees and a trusted voice on two of our sub-committees, contributing to essential work spanning lived experience and clinical services. To mark the launch of the award we asked Sarah’s former colleagues here at Myeloma UK to share memories and reflect on her lasting impact on the myeloma community.
Dr Sophie Castell, CEO at Myeloma UK commenting on Sarah’s contributions and legacy:
“Sarah joined the Board of Myeloma UK in 2019. She was a passionate advocate for people living with myeloma and for making sure that everything we do was centred on what matters most to them. Her depth and breadth of experience, together with her compassion and kindness, have left a lasting legacy, both at Myeloma UK and in the wider haematology world. I miss her smile, her enthusiasm and the light in her eyes.”
Leading through listening
Clinical care isn’t just about treatment – it’s about listening, adjusting and advocating for patient need. Sarah epitomised this in all she did and never lost sight of the person behind the diagnosis.
Pippa Foster, Myeloma UK’s Director of Lived Experience & Clinical Practice reflects:
“Sarah had a spectacular way of asking questions, encouraging continuous improvement and holding us to account while always being supportive, kind and compassionate. She always held patients and their families at the forefront of her mind, and this was reflected in her contributions to our Lived Experience Committee. She cared deeply and passionately and lived our values at all times. Her contributions as our critical friend will live on in all that we do, I am privileged to have known her.”
Sarah’s ability to really hear others made her an exceptional influence amongst her peers too. She connected with people – and inspired them. Professor Karthik Ramasamy, Consultant Haematologist, Associate Professor of Haematology, and a former Myeloma UK Board member, recognises the impact Sarah had on her nursing peers:
“Sarah was a wonderful human being and always found the time and energy to reach beyond her inner circle to influence peers and patients alike. I have given many lectures alongside Sarah and was struck by her ability to understand “what matters for people living with myeloma”. Sarah’s legacy is the influence she has had on the whole myeloma community and makes every nurse specialist for myeloma believe that they are a key player in every myeloma patient’s journey.”
Creating community
Sarah didn’t just demonstrate leadership, she created community. More than a nurse, she became a part of people’s lives, caring and supporting others both inside and outside the clinic. Prabneet Parmar, Support Group Coordinator at Myeloma UK knew Sarah in her role as a Support Group Leader where she created a safe environment and a caring community for people affected by myeloma:
“Sarah had many hats; among them, she was the Support Group Leader for the Nottingham myeloma Support Group. Sarah was instrumental in its inception; getting the group set up in 2017 despite the competing demands of her day job.
“She was a wonderful Leader and welcomed new members to the group with open arms, creating a safe space for patients and families affected by myeloma. She was known as a problem-solver, and patients felt reassured knowing that their problems were listened to and acted upon. Her legacy lives on, with many group members stating to this day how Sarah would always make patients feel at ease. I’d like to express my gratitude for all the work Sarah did, both with the Support Group and outside of it.”
When working alongside her peers, Sarah again fostered a community of learning, collaboration and togetherness. A community in which colleagues could develop and grow, instilled with a shared belief in patient-centred care. Myeloma UK’s Head of Clinical Practice, Dr Suzanne Renwick, remembers these qualities in Sarah:
“I first met Sarah when Nottingham joined the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme and, from the very beginning, it was clear that she was a passionate advocate for every person in her care. She had a gift for making people feel truly seen, heard, and valued – qualities that defined her approach to nursing.
“To the myeloma nursing community, Sarah was both a leader and a mentor. She shared her knowledge with generosity, encouraging others to grow in confidence and skill. Her role as founder and chair of the UK Myeloma Society Nurse Group is a testament to her vision and commitment, creating a lasting platform for education, collaboration and support. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her determination to always put patients first will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude.”
Sarah led by example, and it’s clear that her deep sense of community and unwavering commitment to togetherness shaped the way she showed up – day in, day out.
Setting the standard
“Sarah was one of the first myeloma clinical nurse specialists and really set about defining how important myeloma nurse specialists are to improving the quality of care for myeloma patients.
“I will remember her passion, her dedication and her kindness. I always enjoyed listening to her wisdom. She was a great friend to many in the myeloma community, and I count myself lucky that I was one of them.”
Professor Graham Jackson, Myeloma UK’s Chief Clinical and Scientific Advisor
Sarah was known for her calm and compassionate professionalism. Always ready to share her knowledge and learning with peers in pursuit of collaborative best practice, she exemplified the best quality of care for everybody affected by myeloma. Ellen Watters, one of Myeloma UK’s Myeloma Information Specialists remembers meeting Sarah at numerous events over the years, but it was seeing her in action in the clinic that had the greatest impact:
“She kindly allowed me to shadow her for a day as she carried out her clinical duties. This was an invaluable experience for me as I got to see first-hand how her knowledge, expertise and compassion benefitted the patients and their loved ones that she came into contact with on a daily basis. It was very clear how much Sarah was respected by patients and her colleagues during my visit.
“At haematology events Sarah’s expertise was in great demand and she was often called on to present, which she did happily – always keen to share her best evidence-based practice. She will be sorely missed by the myeloma community and by everyone who came into contact with her.”
Quiet influence, lasting impact
Sarah’s influence extended beyond her role, shaping how those around her thought, how we worked, and how we supported each other in practice, and in life.
Monica Morris, Clinical Practice Programme Manager here at Myeloma UK knew Sarah for many years and recognised Sarah’s dedication in supporting colleagues to achieve clinical excellence for patient benefit:
“Sarah was a fantastic ambassador for myeloma nursing. I have known her for many years both as a fellow clinical nurse specialist, and through her contribution to Myeloma UK, UKMS and other myeloma nursing meetings. Sarah was a clear and passionate communicator and educator and was always seeking to improve practice to ensure patients got the very best care possible. She is a huge loss to the myeloma nursing community in the UK and will be greatly missed.”
Myeloma UK’s Clinical Services Excellence Programme (CSEP) values aligned beautifully with Sarah’s vision of patient care – so we are delighted as part of our 10-year CSEP anniversary to announce the Sarah Henshaw Award for Clinical Excellence.
Recognising a legacy: The Sarah Henshaw Award for Clinical Excellence
The launch of this new annual award will honour the memory of our much-loved colleague and friend, whose impact on myeloma care continues to resonate across our community.
Award winners will be recognised for their commitment to clinical excellence, a passion for progress, and above all, a profound respect for the wellbeing and dignity of individuals and families affected by myeloma: qualities championed by Sarah throughout her life and career.
This recognition will inspire teams to push boundaries, elevate standards, and continue the compassionate work we should all aspire to. We look forward to celebrating the first recipients of this award and sharing stories of excellent care – inspiring continued progress, compassion, and excellence in myeloma care.
Together, we can change the lives of those affected by myeloma.
