Throughout advent, we're highlighting those who work hard throughout the year - and at Christmas - to keep Norfolk and Waveney's health service ticking over.

This countdown of those we count on will focus on a different person or individual every day up until Christmas, celebrating our healthcare heroes.

Emily Zenzer, newly qualified nurse in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital emergency department

'My job role requires me to work with patients from all walks of life who present to the emergency department with all kinds of health complaints. I have to be ready to deal with anything that comes through the door, which could be an elderly person who has fallen and broken their hip, a young person who is going through a mental health crisis, someone who has been in a road traffic accident, or someone who is in cardiac arrest. Whatever the patient's problem might be, it's my job to be there for them, to listen and be ready to respond to their needs to help them through their time in the ED.

'In the emergency department, we work as a team. This means that every day I work closely with doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, senior nurses, pharmacists and health care assistants, as well as the ambulance team to help our patients on their way to recovery.

'It's my job to make a patient's time in the ED as comfortable as possible and to try to keep the system running smoothly. So, I have to reassure my patients, to make sure that they understand what is going on and what will happen next, and make sure they've got everything they need whether it's a blanket, pain killers or a cup of tea.

I love my job. I love being able to help people at such a stressful time for them and to know that I'm using my skills and training to the best of my abilities. It makes me feel happy and gives me a sense of achievement to know that I can be the person to help someone through a hard time and make a difference.

'I work with an amazing team, who have welcomed me into the department and helped me find my feet. The staff I work alongside are always happy to share their knowledge and expertise with me which helps me improve and expand on my own knowledge and skills. The great team I work alongside and the reward of helping people is what makes me love my job.'

• To read about other holiday health heroes, click on a door on the advent calendar above.