Staff recognised at Long Service and Values Awards Ceremony
St George’s celebrated over 56 members of staff with more than 25 years of service at the trust at the Annual Long Service Awards Ceremony.
The event, held on Tuesday 17th May, also awarded staff and volunteers who live up to our trust values: excellent, kind, responsible and respectful. In addition there was also special recognition for our long serving volunteers and volunteer of the year award.
Jennie Hall, chief nurse, hosted the ceremony and awarded all winners with their prizes. The award winners’ citations showcased how many staff go above and beyond for patients and colleagues.
Congratulations to everyone who won an award. Photos are available upon request via communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Thanks to the Listening into Action sponsor group, the awards panel, Di Emmerson and the trust’s catering team for making the event such a success.
Full citations:
Excellent individual of the year award – Sarah Farnell-Ward
Sarah Farnell-Ward had an idea to identify pressure areas on individual patients in critical care and started the “hotspot” project. She created posters and suggested a “hotspot” of the month.
Staff within her team would then check a patient’s particular “hotspot” had been identified and preventative measures were taken to avoid a pressure area developing within their “hotspot”. Within three months of the project launch there was a 53% reduction in pressure ulcers. The “hotspot” project may now be rolled out to the entire hospital.
Sarah worked in her own time as well as work time, motivated her colleagues and made an important issue for excellent patient care, fun and rewarding
Excellent team of the year award – Mary Seacole multi-disciplinary team
Following a high incidence of serious pressure ulcers, the multi-disciplinary team increased training and knowledge, working as a team to prevent the pressure ulcers. This resulted in having no pressure ulcers reported for more than 134 days. This is clinical excellence.
Kind individual of the year award – Michael Baker
Michael was nominated twice within the year, both related to the support he has given to Project Search.
He supported a number of young people with learning disabilities to learn new skills, experience work and contribute to a team. He has been an active mentor in the portering team and adapted to the pace of the young people. He epitomises our trust values has contributed to making Project Search the success it is.
One participant said: ‘Michael Baker helped us in St Georges Hospital as a mentor, by believing in the trainees, always being kind and polite and being helpful to patients and staff.’
Kind team of the year award – Gordon Smith ward
On learning that one of their gravely ill patients had plans to marry, the ward team organised a wedding ceremony for the patient and their partner and invited their families.
Their kindness at a time of such deep sorrow, brought joy to a grieving family and went beyond the call of duty.
Respectful individual of the year award – Ruel Villaflores
Ruel was nominated as his “enthusiasm and leadership have seen a paradigm shift in the atmosphere in theatres. It is a pleasure to work there at the moment and his team are motivated and enthusiastic. It truly is down to his hard work and devotion that we have such a cohesive team.” Well done Ruel!
Respectful team of the year award – G4S patient transport team
One patient reported: “I have never known anything like it, from the moment they collected me to the moment they dropped me off they made me feel safe and comfortable!”
“I was in excruciating pain but because I was treated as a person and not just another patient that made everything feel so much better. I want to express my upmost gratitude and respect to them. If how they were with me is how they are on a daily basis with all patients they transport they are very special people.”
Responsible individual of the year award – Shonette Charles-Nurse
Shonette is focused on maintaining standards of care, ensuring staff are informed of changes, which may impact on patient care. She has very high standards expecting similar of her peers and colleagues whilst being extremely approachable.
She is calm and respectful with patients enabling her to uncover any issues so they may be resolved. She is kind, respectful of everyone (patients and staff) and takes responsibility for ensuring a safe place for patients and staff to visit and work.
Shonette accepts extra work to assist her colleagues, completing it with a smile. She always seeks a solution to issues and will promote and share other people’s ideas in order to provide the best practice.
Responsible team of the year award – Children’s therapies and health visiting teams
These two teams were nominated as they had to relocate their services to Queen Mary’s Hospital in very short timescales.
Due to some environmental issues the teams had to change their working practices, re-arrange clinics and patient visits and work in difficult circumstances.
They carried this relocation out with great responsibility and have been really flexible and accommodating. Both teams have shown great teamwork and it has been a pleasure to assist them.
Lifetime contribution award – Gail Thompson
Gail retired from the trust after 46 years of continuous service for the neurosurgery department. She has been an amazing member of staff for this organisation and always put patients first in everything she did.
She is now coming back to volunteer for St George’s and there is not a member of staff who deserves this award more.
Volunteer of the year – Indumati Patel
Nominated by a poll of volunteer service users.
Notes to editors
Photos are available upon request via communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk
