NHS Heroes: Patients full of praise for nurse who has made a big difference to their lives

"She is a marvel," said Barbara Morgan. "I just can't praise her enough. The first time I met Joan she said, 'You must be Barbara' and I was instantly so relieved."

It is a touch valued by all those she cares for and goes some way to explaining why Mrs Higgs, 66, is a finalist in the Yorkshire Post NHS Health and Social Care Hero of the Year Award 2010.

"It's a mark of respect, and because you like them you just remember their names," said Mrs Higgs, who started working as a nurse 50 years ago. "We deal with a lovely group of people. I love 'em to bits."

Mrs Higgs became a specialist sister in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 1997, as a member of a ground-breaking pilot scheme. Such was her success, there is now a six-strong team at Northern General Hospital, part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, focused on dealing with the crippling disease.

Mrs Higgs created a monthly social gathering of COPD patients called Breazers Club, which is where Mrs Morgan, 78, a retired admin worker for Bassett's confectionery, met her.

"The social side is so good for people," Mrs Morgan said. "When my husband died nine years ago, I lost all my confidence. The day I walked into Breazers I became a new person with Joan – and I'm not the only one."

Mrs Higgs also started yoga classes and now 25 COPD sufferers regularly take part in tailored chair-based exercises. The weekly sessions have produced some amazing results.

"Of the patients that come to yoga, not one has been admitted to hospital for COPD in the last year," said Mrs Higgs. "And this is a disease which gets frequent hospital admissions."

Outside of work, Mrs Higgs maintains her commitment. "She devotes so much of her own time to helping people in need," said Mrs Morgan. "I was having difficulty so I phoned Joan. It was her day off but she came."

Mrs Morgan is not the only one who feels this way. Mrs Higgs was also nominated for the award by Pauline Wright, Graham Storey and Mr and Mrs Scarborough.

"She really is a find," said Mrs Morgan. "I could go on forever. She is a marvellous woman – I can't think of anything she does wrong."

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