Making a Difference - Award Winners

A radiographer at Royal Derby Hospital had been praised by her colleagues for acting quickly and professionally in a potentially life-threatening situation.

Nicole Turner, Senior Radiographer, was contacted by a patient’s wife to say they were feeling unwell and nauseous.  

The patient was receiving pelvic radiotherapy which would not usually cause these symptoms, so Nicole used her initiative to review the imaging done the previous day and noticed an abnormality which concerned her.

Upon finding these abnormalities, Nicole contacted the Consultant she was working alongside to raise these as a matter of urgency and bought the patient in for further assessment. The abnormalities showed that the patient had a bowel obstruction and was taken to surgery within just a few hours.

Dr Jessica Davies, who nominated Nicole, said: “Without Nicole's intervention, the patient may well have not presented to hospital until a later stage which could easily have been life-threatening.”

Grace Pearn, Director of Allied Health Professional presented Nicole with her award alongside Andy Proctor, Director of Quality, Clinical Governance, Risk & Compliance.

Grace said: “What you did genuinely saved that gentleman’s life, so well done, I’m really proud of what you did that day. This award is massively well deserved.”

Andy Proctor, Director of Quality, Clinical Governance, Risk & Compliance, said: “It’s a great acknowledgement when our colleagues nominate us. We all have a job and we all do stuff that is part of our roles, but actually, someone has clearly recognised the impact you had on them at that time and its lovely that they have taken the time to nominate you.”

If you would like to nominate a colleague or team for a Monthly Making a Difference Award, please let us know.

There are four monthly Making a Difference Awards categories:

• Chief Executive Award – chosen by Gavin Boyle
• Patient Hero Award – nominated by patients
• Team UHDB Award – you can nominate your team or another team
• Excellent Employee Award – you can nominate your colleagues

You can send a 300 word nomination, along with the name of the team or individual, their job title and where they work, to: uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net.

The last 18 months have been extremely tough for our Theatres teams at UHDB as the emergence of Covid-19 has required them to completely alter the way that they work.

There have been vast changes to the way that we use theatres over the past 18 months, with these areas instead being used to provide vital additional capacity to treat patients with the virus – at a time when it was needed most.

As the numbers of mechanically-ventilated beds increased from 22 to 129 across the Trust, colleagues in Theatres have had to completely adapt the way they work to allow for the ICUs at our Derby and Burton sites to be expanded.

On top of this, members of the Theatres team have also been redeployed to Intensive Care themselves at various stages of the pandemic, in order to help support staff safely care for some of our most poorly patients, with and without Covid-19.

It was only right then that our Theatres teams were recognised for their Outstanding Contribution at last month’s virtual annual Making a Difference Awards, with Dr Magnus Harrison, Executive Medical Director and Deputy CEO, presenting the Burton team with their award in person this week.

Nicky Clarke, lead practitioner in QHB Theatres, said: “I would just like to thank the whole team for everything they’ve done. They’ve all come together; they’ve all worked so hard together, and everybody’s contributed. It’s been a very challenging year for all of us but we’re all looking forward to a better one next year now!”

Gavin Boyle, UHDB Chief Executive, stopped by the Derby team to hand them their award.

Jon Clarke, Theatre Manager at RDH, said: “I’m amazed at the effort our staff have put in over the last 18 months. It is truly appreciated. Everyone, without fail, has gone that extra mile and we’re really proud of all of the team.”

Gavin added: “There are two parts to why the Theatres teams have won our Outstanding Contribution Award. One is for all the support they’ve given to ICU over the last 18 months, but the other is for all the work that they’re doing now to recover. I’m conscious that everybody is concerned about the backlogs of patients, but I know that my theatre colleagues are all working incredibly hard to make inroads into that and to look after all those patients as well.

“I just want to thank the teams for everything that they’ve done and to recognise their outstanding contribution.”

The lengths our Intensive Care colleagues have gone to throughout the pandemic to protect our most poorly patients has been absolutely extraordinary – they have all truly made an outstanding contribution.

It was fitting then when our ICU teams at Queen’s Hospital Burton and Royal Derby Hospital won the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ at UHDB’s annual Making a Difference Awards, which was held virtually last month.

The teams have responded magnificently to both ICUs coming under unprecedented pressure over the last 18 months, with the Burton unit tripling in size and the Derby unit increasing its capacity fivefold, so that the most poorly patients with and without Covid-19 could be cared for safely.

As much as anything else though, the colleagues working in Intensive Care have shown enormous courage and dedication to care for high numbers of Covid-19 patients; so fully deserved their awards, which were presented to them in person this week.  

Joe Eynon, ICU Charge Nurse at QHB, said: “I just think that, from a nursing point of view, I’d like to thank – not just the great team that we’ve got here – but all of the redeployed staff as well because we literally wouldn’t have been able to do what we’ve done without the help of our redeployed colleagues. From Theatres, the Treatment Centre, the wards, and from the community hospitals as well, they’ve all really helped us out, so thank you.”

Kelly Clarke, ICU Sister at RDH, also expressed her thanks to the redeployed colleagues from across UHDB, adding: “I’m phenomenally proud of all of the team, whose care, compassion and teamwork have been amazing to see. The resilience and the teamwork that they’ve all demonstrated over the last 18 months and moving forward has been phenomenal.”

Chief Executive Gavin Boyle was on hand to present the ICU team in Derby with their award, whilst Dr Magnus Harrison, Executive Medical Director and Deputy CEO, paid the QHB unit a visit to hand them their award in person.

Gavin said: “What a real pleasure it has been to have been able to recognise all of the hard work of our ICU colleagues at our virtual Making a Difference Awards. It really would’ve been nice to have been able to do it in person and have a party but it is so important that we’ve been able to recognise everything these teams have done. Just thinking about the 18 months that our Intensive Care colleagues have had, what they’ve done and all the lives they’ve saved, it’s just a phenomenal achievement.”

A Royal Derby Hospital radiographer has received August’s Patient Hero Award for showing kindness and reassurance to a patient and their family at an extremely stressful time.

Monica Thornton, Lead Late Effects Radiographer, was nominated by a lady who was sinking fast, watching the deterioration of her partner’s health, a year after receiving stoma surgery.  

The nomination for Monica read: “From my first conversation with Monica Thornton of The Late Effects Team, she was there to dispense so much kindness and reassurance at an extremely stressful time.  Monica showed empathy, and her devotion and commitment to patient care was evident from the outset.  We no longer felt alone with our problems, Monica listened to Noel and myself and sent us so much helpful reading material and information, she covered absolutely everything, really going that extra mile. Monica has an excellent rapport with both patients and their family, her enthusiasm is admirable, it is evident Monica really does have a passion for her job.   

"Monica's care has made a significant difference at a very difficult time for Noel and myself.  Her intervention has reinforced collaboration between specialities and has demonstrated a commitment to effective teamwork.  Monica's dedication and focus on patient care is truly exceptional, she really is an asset to Royal Derby Hospital and we think she deserves an award for her kindness, empathy, compassion, professionalism, patience, her true commitment to delivering the best personal care and, excellent communication."

Andy Proctor, Director of Quality, Clinical Governance, Risk & Compliance, presented Monica with her award alongside Grace Pearn, Director of Allied Health Professionals.

Grace said: “This nomination shows that you really have gone above and beyond to support this patient and their family – the nomination bought me to tears. It is so special when we get recognised by our patients for the work we do. You have made such an impact om the care and treatment this patient has received. Thank you and well done.”

Upon receiving the award, Monica said: “I’m really appreciative of this award. It’s so important for me and my team that we give our patients a voice and that they are heard. It is great to see our service being recognised for what we do for our patients.”

If you would like to nominate a colleague or team for a Monthly Making a Difference Award, please let us know.

There are four monthly Making a Difference Awards categories:

• Chief Executive Award – chosen by Gavin Boyle
• Patient Hero Award – nominated by patients
• Team UHDB Award – you can nominate your team or another team
• Excellent Employee Award – you can nominate your colleagues

You can send a 300 word nomination, along with the name of the team or individual, their job title and where they work, to: uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net.

 

A nurse on Royal Derby Hospital’s Ward 305 has received July’s Patient Hero Award for becoming “elder sister” to a teenage patient who spent more than 50 days in hospital.

Jamelah Arcenia, affectionately known as Jam by her colleagues, went above and beyond to provide care for Tejal Paliya who recovered from being critically ill to go on to sit her A-levels on the ward a year ahead of schedule.

Find out more about Tejal's story here >

During Tejal’s 39 day stay on Ward 305, Jam helped her wash her hair and plait her hair, changed her dressings and more.

Tejal’s nomination read: “While all the staff were extremely friendly and made me feel comfortable, Jam was like an elder sister to me.

“Even when she was assigned duty on the other side of the ward, she would come to say hi and plait my hair without me even asking her to. We would laugh and talk about so many things and a day before I was discharged she gave me a cushion, a box of my favourite chocolate and a card with a lovely message.

“Whenever she was around she would wink at me and make me feel at home. She is an extremely sweet and passionate nurse who definitely went well beyond a nurse’s job and she became my sister.”

Upon receiving the award, Jam said: “It’s overwhelming really. I’ve not been with the team here for very long and I certainly didn’t expect this. But this award isn’t just for me, it’s for the whole Ward 305 team, everyone here is so lovely and Tejal was such a great patient.”

Chief Nurse Cathy Winfield presented Jam with her award and had these kind words: “Jam’s actions demonstrate everything that’s important here at UHDB, and you really went above and beyond for Tejal. You should feel very proud of what you have done.”

If you would like to nominate a colleague or team for a Monthly Making a Difference Award, please let us know.

There are four monthly Making a Difference Awards categories:

• Chief Executive Award – chosen by Gavin Boyle
• Patient Hero Award – nominated by patients
• Team UHDB Award – you can nominate your team or another team
• Excellent Employee Award – you can nominate your colleagues

You can send a 300 word nomination, along with the name of the team or individual, their job title and where they work, to: uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net.