Aberdeenshire man praised by Dame Judi Dench was inspired to work as a nurse because of his mum

Health care worker Lewis Platt talks to us about why he loves his job and reveals how he's even learned about planets in outer space to carry out his role.

By Charlotte Thomson

March 10 2023, 11:45 am

Caring Lewis Platt at his work at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

Learning about outer space and planets is in not quite what you’d expect a student nurse to be doing as part of their role.

But it’s one of the unusual tasks Lewis Platt gives himself while going the extra mile for his patients.

They’re usually admitted to the orthopaedic unit experiencing pain through illness or injuries involving broken bones.

And Lewis and his colleagues at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary are acutely aware of just how important it is to take their mind off things.

“I always have good fun with the patients, ” Lewis explains. “Even though we’re professional I like to have a wee laugh with them.

“We always try to make their lives better.

“Some of the patients here haven’t got anyone and when they see you they know that you’re going to look after them.”

He even meets celebrities on the ward…

Lewis, of Fraserburgh, started working as a healthcare support worker at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 2018 and is now studying for a BSc degree in Nursing.

Every day is different and you never know quite what to expect until you start your shift – or even who you’ll be treating.

Lewis gives patient Harry Gray a check over on the ward. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

There’s patients of all ages on the ward, ranging from people injured in car accidents to elderly patients hurt in falls.

“We go from broken fingers to major trauma,” Lewis explains. “It’s always busy.”

One of the patients admitted to the ward was a relative of film star Dame Judi Dench.

Conservationist Sacha Dench was taken to the hospital following a life-changing mid-air accident in a paramotor.

And while caring for Sacha, Lewis ended up chatting about his role as secretary of the Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society.

He was later sent a video from Judi thanking him for his “incredibly kind” care.

Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society are incredibly proud and honoured to share with you a video our secretary Lewis received this week from the one and only Dame Judi Dench. Lewis was looking after Dame Judi's relative Sacha Dench in hospital and began chatting about the great work FJAS does for the community and what we are aiming to achieve within our society. She agreed that it is important that local community groups thrive in the arts, so much so that Sacha, Dame Judi and Dame Joanna Lumley, have all sponsored chairs for the society.We cannot express how grateful we are for the generosity received and the accolade of having such legendary actresses as sponsors. Congratulations Lewis, this is a moment to treasure.

Posted by Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society on Friday, 13 May 2022

‘They come here physically broken’

Seeing patients recover is always a special moment for Lewis and all the hardworking staff in the orthopaedic team.

“It can be quite difficult for them so a lot of encouragement is needed,” Lewis explains.

“When they come here they are physically broken, and within a week we’ve got them walking again and they are going away home.

“It’s amazing to see.”

Some of the patients are in for just two days but others need to be cared for in the ward for several weeks to help them build up their strength

Lewis Platt in the ward. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

Patient Stuart Mackenzie has been recovering from surgery in the unit.

His chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer was successful last year but new cancer cells were recently discovered in one of his legs.

Stuart, 63, of Newmachar, is grateful for all the care he’s received during his time in hospital.

“Personally I can’t praise them enough,” he said. “They are doing a wonderful job under really trying circumstances. They really are marvellous.”

Patient Stuart Mackenzie on the ward. Image: Charlotte Thomson/DC Thomson

As a healthcare support worker, Lewis attends to the daily care of patients, washing them and taking them for walks and changing their wound dressings.

“We have patients who have been here for months because there’s just nowhere for them to go,” he explains. “They’ve become part of our little family and they know us.”

So why did he learn about outer space?

Getting to know the patients is something that Lewis finds helps each person in their recovery.

“If you are encouraging them and chatting to them they’ll think, ‘oh I can actually do this’,” he explains.

“I always say to patients ‘We will get you going, and help you get back to the way you were’, and a lot of them will need that encouragement.

Lewis has learned about the planets in outer space to carry out his role. Image: Shutterstock

“I chat to the patients about their life and talk about everything.

“I had a patient really interested in space which I knew nothing about and I did go away and learn about some planets just so I could speak to him about it.

“If they know you’re interested in something they will open up to you a bit more.”

Work as a nurse: ‘My mum is my inspiration’

Lewis started out his career in a care home but was always keen to work in an orthopaedics unit due to his interest in people and bones.

And he highlights that it was actually his mum Linda who inspired him to work as a nurse and possibly why his sister also works in healthcare.

“My mum always wanted to be a nurse but she had us so she never really got to pursue the career,” he says.

“Deep down I think that’s why me and my sister are both in healthcare. She’s so proud of us, especially when I was recognised by Judi Dench, that made her world.

“It was humbling.”