National healthcare awards recognise kindness, courage, innovation and professionalism

COLCHESTER, U.K. - Nov. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- The annual awards recognise colleagues that have gone the extra mile to help patients, colleagues or their local communities. Award-winners had been nominated by colleagues then a judging panel selected the winner for most categories, the two exceptions being the Contribution to the Community Award and the Unsung Hero Award, which were voted for by colleagues.

The award winners were:

Rachael McEnery, registered nurse, Southampton NHS Treatment Centre, who won the Great Care Award. This award is for an individual or team continually committed to the provision of great care, putting the needs of patients or service users above all else. Rachael is the very definition of a nurse. She is a beacon of light for those patients and visitors who may fear coming into hospital. She exudes kindness and compassion to not only her patients but to her colleagues alike.

Jane Jones, staff nurse, HMP Isle of Wight, who won the Improved Patient and Service User Experience Award. This award is to recognise the contribution of an individual or team that has made significant improvements to the experience of patients and service users whilst in their care.

Kate O’Rourke, business systems manager, and Ruth Yates, senior applications specialist won the Inspiring Leader Award. This award is for an individual from any level who demonstrates inspiring, innovative and supportive leadership to other individuals, whether or not they are a line manager.

Rachel Wheway, from Maplewood, Park Lodge, who won the Community Champion Award. This award is for an individual or team who makes a significant contribution to their community with their rallying spirit, positivity and dedication to improving the lives of those around them. Last year Rachel was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy in February and began chemotherapy in April this year. She decided she wouldn’t wear wigs when the hair loss started but instead wear a different fascinator every day, and set up an appeal for people to donate fascinators which she would then auction at the end of her treatment to raise money in aid of a cancer charity.

The Recovery Advisory Panel (RAP) team who won the Patient and Service User Engagement Award. This award recognises how an individual or a team has engaged effectively with patients or service users to shape the design of services and their delivery to provide more effective, high quality care. The RAP is made up of eight people who currently live in Care UK mental health services or have been discharged into more independent living.

The Southampton NHS Treatment Centre’s quality improvement team - Kathryn Dunning, Nicola Dunkason and Samuel Obi won the Quality Improvement Award. This award is for an individual or team that have improved the quality of Care UK’s services. Improvements may have made a positive difference to patient safety, experience, clinical effectiveness or the efficiency of the service. The team has shortened the patient pathway by reducing the number of outpatient attendances required both before and after surgery.

The Super practices team, which won the Innovation Award. This award is for an individual or team which has improved the quality of service to patients/service users or colleagues by using unique and creative thinking to provide services and care in a new and different way or increased the range of services that they provide. The challenge the Super practices team has risen to is to try to improve quality in a much loved model and make it more cost effective – a classic, but very difficult win win.

The Buckinghamshire rota team – Joseph Moran, Bev Brown, Sam Parkes and Emma Bowden – which won the Special Recognition: Primary Care Award. This award is to recognise the contribution of an individual or team within Primary Care who consistently works to a high standard and is known for this within their team and service. There’s a small pool of clinicians to fill the rotas in Bucks, so it can be a difficult job, particularly when clinicians aren’t available or don’t want to fill particular rotas.

The Portsmouth MIU management team – Penny Daniels, Paul Fisher and Kath Jones – which won the Special Recognition: Secondary Care Award. This award is to recognise the contribution of an individual or team within the secondary care division who consistently works to a high standard and is known for this within their team and service. In working on the bid for the Southampton MIU, the team in Portsmouth truly were subject matter experts. They know their own service inside out, they knew their own commissioners but, more importantly, they knew the Southampton commissioners and their commissioning intentions.

David Ayres, finance manager, who won the Special Recognition: Support Functions Award. This award is to recognise the contribution of an individual or team within Care UK’s support functions who consistently works to a high standard and is known for this within their team and service. David was nominated by three colleagues separately for this award. What is consistent is mention of his eye for detail, his hardworking nature, and how he supports new starters in the team and those undertaking their CIMA qualifications.

Sophie Nesbitt from Rhodes Farm who won the Medical Professional of the Year Award. This award is to recognise the contribution of a medical professional who makes a real difference to their service and goes above and beyond the expected standards. The last year has been an incredibly busy time for Rhodes Farm and throughout it all many aspects of the service have been both supported and further developed by Sophie's hard work and dedication to the team.

Linda Foster from Lincolnshire Musculoskeletal Intermediate Service (LIMSS), who won the Nurse/Allied Health Professional of the Year Award. This award is to recognise the contribution of an individual that makes a real difference to the place in which they work. Linda makes a real difference to LIMMS, consistently demonstrating an extremely high level of professionalism and dedication in her role of radiographer.

Nina Bouttell from Southampton NHS Treatment Centre who won the Health Support Worker of the Year Award. Nina exemplifies the six ‘Cs’ of nursing. She is compassionate, caring and clear in her communications but most importantly she maintains dignity and respect in challenging circumstances and is a great model for her peers.

Alison Perry, from Emersons Green NHS Treatment Centre, who won the Unsung Hero Award. Alison is a shining example of someone who is extremely hardworking and who takes pride in everything she and the team do. Sometimes the housekeeping staff are taken for granted and we feel it is important to recognise unsung heroes in non-clinical roles. Alison certainly fits the bill.