Sarah had appointments with me in 2021 and 2022. I had been referred to her by my doctor after discovering I have vaginismus. It is something I was very embarrassed over, and found a bit awkward to talk about.

From the get-go, Sarah made me feel comfortable and made me realise I had nothing to be embarrassed about. She has a way about her that just makes you feel at ease! It was so nice to meet someone who had faith in me over something that I didn’t have faith in myself.

You can tell that she really has a passion in what she does and a passion for helping people. I think the fact that she runs the vaginismus clinic on her day off from her usual duties goes to show that!

It may not seem like a big deal to some, but vaginismus is really something that can take over you. It makes you believe you’ll never be able to have smear tests, never be able to have an adult relationship, or never be able to have babies. I will forever be grateful to Sarah for making all of this possible for me. Without her belief, her words, and her help, I really don’t think I’d be where I am today. I get emotional to think about how far I have come in the time I was seeing Sarah. She has enabled me to find joy in something I used to be terrified of. I’ve managed to do things that I never thought in a million years I’d be able to do.

She truly deserves recognition for what she does. I know I’m not the only person whose life she’s changed and I am positive I won’t be the last. Sarah is a credit to her department, a credit to Bedford hospital, and a credit to the NHS as a whole.

Thank you for doing what you do.