A south Essex hospital worker who survived the Bosnian war as a child is using her life experience to support families of elderly patients on a mental health ward.
Nazila Husanovic-Gladwyn, who works on Beech Ward at Rochford Community Hospital, is a Family and Carer Ambassador (FCA) with the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
Her role provides a vital link between patients, their loved ones, and clinical staff — offering emotional support, updates, and reassurance at some of the most difficult times in people’s lives.
Nazila, who previously worked at Southend Hospital, said her journey into the role was driven by personal experience and empathy.
She said: "People sometimes ask why I do this job.
"It’s because I understand suffering and I know how much difference compassion can make."
As a child, Nazila lived through the war in Bosnia before later facing postnatal depression and PTSD herself.
Those experiences, she says, shaped her understanding of trauma and recovery — and inspired her to dedicate her work to helping others.
She added: "Imagine your loved one has been admitted and you can’t get through to the ward – I’m the person who answers that call.
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"Families have my number, and I update them, book visits, and keep them informed.
"They often tell me they wish every ward had someone like this."
Her support allows nurses and doctors to focus on clinical care, while families feel heard and involved in their loved one’s recovery.
She also contributes to multidisciplinary meetings, sharing insights gathered from families to help shape better, more personalised care.
Nazila’s compassion often extends beyond expectations.
She recalls arranging for a terminally ill patient to be moved from hospital to a care home so they could spend their final days with family.
Nazila added: "That’s what this job is all about – making sure people are treated with dignity and compassion.
“Doing good and making a difference feeds my soul.
"I’m proud to be part of something that helps people feel heard, supported, and cared for."
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