Toni's unwavering commitment to making Renal Unit a special place to work and receive care recognised with Patient Hero Award
A member of Royal Derby Hospital's Renal Unit who has created an extensive activities programme to help patients feel more at ease and to improve their experience while undergoing dialysis has been recognised for the difference she has made to patients and colleagues alike.
Renal Technician, Toni Stanley, is also the Patient Experience Champion in the team, and has taken a proactive approach to create a patient experience for programme, which includes quizzes, arts and crafts activities, live music performances and more on the Unit to enhance the time patients spend while having their treatment.
Dialysis is a procedure which removes waste and excess fluid from the blood in patients whose kidneys are not working properly, with patients needing to visit hospital three times a week for dialysis treatments which last for around four hours a time. This is often a treatment that patients require for the rest of their lives.
In recognition of her commitment and the difference her work continues to have, Toni has been chosen as the latest recipient of our Patient Hero Monthly Making a Difference Award following a glowing nomination submitted by her colleagues.
Upon being presented with her award in front of many smiling colleagues, Toni, who has been a member of the Renal Unit team for 20 years, said:
"I am really shocked to have received this award, and I'm so thankful to my colleagues for their lovely words. The Unit really does feel like home, and I just try to do my best to make it feel even more homely for us as staff and our patients who spend a lot of time here.
"It gives me a huge sense of satisfaction to see what the patient experience programme means to patients, and to hear them say thank you for what I'm doing means everything to me."
As part of her role as Patient Experience Champion, Toni has arranged for a host of activities for patients, including arranging for memory boxes containing items from different eras for patients to explore, organised themed days and celebrations - including to commemorate the NHS' 75th birthday and International Nurses Day - and has helped patients sign up to library facilities to allow them to access books and other materials to use during their appointments.
However, Toni says her project to create a striking display of poppies for Remembrance Day in November 2023 with the help of patients on the Unit is something that particularly stands out to her.
Toni involved patients and asked them to paint paper plates which then formed part of larger displays around the Unit.
She continued: "It is so nice to get the patients involved in these activities and to take their mind off the fact that they're in hospital. Some patients were a bit reluctant to get involved in the poppies project, but soon enough, they were painting numerous poppies for me which was amazing to see.
"Our patients visit the Unit often, with many having done so for a long time, so we get to know them really well. Some patients remember me going on my first date with my now husband and the birth of my children and it's a lovely place to be and to work. I cannot imagine working anywhere else."
Samantha Inger, Senior Sister on Renal Unit, submitted the nomination for Toni along with her colleagues, and praised Toni's ongoing commitment to ensuring holistic care for dialysis patients and the impact that her work and personality has on the rest of the team.
She said: "The difference Toni has made to the patients, staff and general atmosphere on the Unit is amazing. Seeing patients smile and enjoying themselves is a gift that Toni has given us all, and she works so hard to make their treatment not just 'another appointment' but somewhere that brightens their day.
"Everyone thinks so highly of Toni and her endless hard work does not go unnoticed."
Will Monaghan, Executive Chief Digital Information Officer, presented Toni with her award, and expressed his gratitude for positive impact her work is having:
"We understand that having to visit our hospitals multiple times per week for a number of hours can be demanding, but Toni's commitment and proactive approach to helping to make these visits more engaging and everything she has done and continues to do is making a real difference to their experiences.
"The fact that Toni goes out of her way to create some of these activities in her own time further underlines her commitment and dedication to her role and to providing the best possible care for our patients.
"I am delighted to present Toni with this Making a Difference Award, and would like to thank you on behalf of all of your colleagues across the Trust for your energy and compassion which is having a huge impact on our patients, but also on your colleagues too."