For extraordinary nurses
Say thank you to a nurse who made a difference
Andrews is the first hospital in Jamaica to present the DAISY Award, an international honour for nurses, and the people who decide who deserves it are patients and families like you.
The award
Started by a family, now given around the world
In 1999 Patrick Barnes died at 33 of complications of an autoimmune disease. During his eight weeks in hospital, his family were struck by the skill and kindness of the nurses who cared for him, and for them. They set up the DAISY Foundation to say thank you. DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is now presented in thousands of hospitals in dozens of countries. Andrews launched the programme on July 9, 2026, as the Foundation’s first partner hospital in Jamaica.
Our Director of Nursing, Dr Lisa Henry, has said the hospital wants the award to become a lasting part of its culture, and not a once-a-year event.
- Each honoree receives
- A certificate and A Healer’s Touch, a sculpture hand-carved in Zimbabwe.
- Programme lead
- Karlene Armstrong, Coordinator of Professional Development and Clinical Excellence.
- First round
- 17 nurses nominated. Nominations closed on September 30, 2026.
Jamaica’s first DAISY honoree
Merissa Geoghagen, Registered Nurse
In October 2026, Lady Allen, wife of the Governor-General and herself a former registered nurse, announced the first DAISY honoree in Jamaica. Merissa Geoghagen was chosen from 17 nominees and had received four separate nominations, more than any other nurse.
One came from Camica Simpson, who spent four days at Andrews after a procedure. She wrote about a nurse who explained every treatment, checked on her often and made an anxious stay a reassuring one.
“What stood out the most was her genuine smile and compassion.”
Nominate a nurse
Tell us the story
You don’t need to write much, and it doesn’t need to be polished. The best nominations describe one moment: what the nurse did, and what it meant to you.
- What was happening, and how were you feeling?
- What did the nurse do or say?
- What difference did it make?
Nominations for the first award closed on September 30, 2026. Anything you send us now goes to the programme’s coordinator.
Questions about nominating
Who can I nominate?
A nurse who cared for you or your relative at Andrews Memorial Hospital. The programme’s committee confirms who is eligible.
Who can make a nomination?
Patients, relatives, visitors, doctors and colleagues. Anyone who has seen a nurse give extraordinary care.
What if I don’t know the nurse’s full name?
Tell us what you remember: a first name, the unit, the date and the shift.
How are honorees chosen?
When a nomination period closes, a committee at the hospital reviews and scores every submission against set criteria. The criteria centre on compassion and on the hospital’s mission and values.