Thank you to St George’s nurses
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said a big thank you to its entire nursing staff on Tuesday 12 May during events and activities to mark International Nurses’ Day.
The Trust named its Nurse of the Year 2009 as Jee Ho, Colorectal Nurse Specialist in General Surgery, for her work in running a rapid access clinic for patients with suspected cancers, while Mark Soomaroo, Charge Nurse on Allingham Ward, was named runner up for his leadership in encouraging learning and professional development within his team.
Rixa von dem Bussche, lead midwife of the Carmen Suite, was presented with Midwife of Year 2009 for her “invaluable efforts” in spearheading the Trust’s midwifery-led birth unit through its conception, implementation and first year of operation. Marion Louki, a midwife on Carmen Suite, was selected as runner- up for her for being an excellent role model for junior midwives.
Healthcare Assistant of the Year 2009 was Iwona Klinek who works on St George’s Neuro Intensive Care Unit. She was nominated for coping effectively under pressure and for developing guidelines on aspects of the healthcare assistant (HCA) role to help new staff. Ethel Gordon, HCA on the Delivery Suite and runner up in this category, was described as “a delight to work with” by one of her nominees for her conscientious attitude and friendliness.
Winners of the awards were given £100 in M&S gift cards and a commemorative badge, while runners up received £50 in M&S gift cards.
Director of Nursing Geraldine Walters said: “It is fantastic to be able to reward nurses for the hard work they do and to celebrate the achievements and successes of nursing colleagues. It was a great day so thank you to the sponsors and the planning team who made it all possible.”
Notes to editors
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Further information on International Nurses’ Day
Nurses on wards and in outpatient clinics got a special morning tea-break on May 12 with cakes delivered by senior nursing staff. Cakes were donated by Mitie, the hospital’s cleaning and catering provider, and Peabody’s coffee shop.
Two educational awards for research or study to improve clinical practice and patient care were also given on International Nurses’ Day. The Auntie Lucy award, named for Lucy Kpobie, a former long-serving nurse at St George’s, was given to Catherine Bridge, Clinical Teaching Sister in Geriatric Medicine, to organise a bespoke study day for the nurses in Geriatrics. The Dame Muriel Powell Award, presented by the St George’s Nurses’ League in memory of St George’s long-standing and renowned former matron and chief nursing officer, was given to the nursing team at the Wolfson Neuro-rehabilitation Centre. The celebrations were also supported by the St George’s Hospital Charity.
Nominations for Nurse/Midwife/HCA of the Year were invited for staff who had met one of more of the following criteria:
- Demonstrated proven benefits to patient care
- Made an outstanding contribution to nursing practice
- Completed a piece of work that has improved patient care
- Worked consistently and contributed to the clinical team over and above what has been expected
