Altnagelvin staff recognised

The third annual Western Trust Staff Recognition Awards were presented by Health Minister Edwin Poots.

A range of health workers from across the North West received awards.

The Chairman’s Award was presented to Anne Love, Western Trust Volunteer Services Coordinator, for Leadership.

Anne received recognition for demonstrating great leadership and motivating volunteers, many of whom remained with the Trust for a considerable period of time.

Perpetua Boyle, Nurse Support, Day Care Unit, Altnagelvin Hospital received a Support Worker award.

She was described as a very versatile and obliging member of the Day Care team and an individual who carries out her duties quietly and thoroughly.

Nichola Tinney, Assistant Practitioner, Radiology, Altnagelvin Hospital and Hugh Mahon, Porter, Waterside Hospital, Gransha Park were highly commended.

Nichola was nominated in recognition of her professional approach to work and the inspiration she has been to other support staff who are also in training for Assistant Practitioner status.

Hugh was described as punctual, friendly and always has a welcoming smile. He is a very valuable member of the Waterside Hospital team.

Stephanie Johnston, Lead Nurse, Ophthalmology Clinic, Altnagelvin Hospital, received the Improving Patient Services or Access to Service Award.

Stephanie has played a key role in designing and introducing service changes which have improved access to services within the Ophthalmology service.

She has worked collaboratively with other areas and departments in raising the profile of the Ophthalmology Department and she strives to promote equitable access across all areas of the Trust.

Highly Commended were Neil Black, Consultant, Acute Medical Unit, Altnagelvin Hospital and Claire Crossan, Alcohol Liaison Nurse, Accident and Emergency Department, Altnagelvin Hospital.

Claire Crossan was appointed Alcohol Liaison Nurse within the A&E Department, Altnagelvin Hospital two years ago. She has developed a service for patients who present to A&E with problems related to alcohol.

Neil has improved the treatment of patients who present with alcohol related problems through his involvement in the development of pathways and guidelines creating better access to services. He has also improved links with community services which provide follow up for patients on discharge.

Ward 9 Nursing and Catering Staff, Altnagelvin Hospital, received a Quality and Safety Award.

In November 2007 the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) launched 10 a day nutritional standards for patients in hospital and senior nursing staff within Ward 9 began to look at how these standards would be implemented and maintained.

A comprehensive project began in late 2008 to implement the standards and the motivation and energy of staff was used to its full potential in addressing the deficits they had in relation to patient nutrition.

The staff on the ward are very committed to providing the highest possible standard of nutrition to their patients, this has been achieved through team work, partnership and collaboration.

The Challenging Behaviour Service, Oak Villa, Gransha Hospital, was highly commended.

The service works with staff in care settings enabling them to understand how unmet need in dementia may be expressed as behaviours that others find challenging, and to realise that not all behaviours are due to the dementia process. Consequently it is seen as “staff-centred, person-focused”.

Maria Smith, Sensory Support Services, Glendermott Road, Londonderry, received a Communications Award.

Maria assesses and provides specialist equipment to deaf/hard of hearing adults and children throughout the Northern Sector of the Western Trust. Maria recently compiled a booklet which proves a comprehensive guide to a range of support resources from the statutory and voluntary sectors for services.

Staff at Thackeray Place, Limavady and Estates Team, Altnagelvin Hospital, were also highly commended.

Thackeray Place Residential Home for Older People has been serving the local community of Limavady for 35 years. The officer-in-charge, Kathy Cochrane, says she has had the privilege of working with the staff in Thackeray for 21 years and has observed countless examples of dedication, commitment and kindness and a consistently high standard of care.

Resty Bautista, Administrative Support, Trust Headquarters, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, received a Behind the Scenes award for listening and grasping the concepts of ward to board assurance.

He has developed a ward based dashboard to allow staff to input their scores and retain their ward dashboard to track their performance.

He has created a divisional and Directorate dash board system that lead nurses, Assistant Directors and Directors can access to see the performance of the ward and teams.

Hilary Sidwell, Head of Equality and Human Rights and Diane Harkin, Receptionist at the Trust Headquarters, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, was highly commended.

Hilary has worked tirelessly across the Trust in promoting and mainstreaming equality as a core element of the Trust’s decision making and business. Hilary provides advice, support and expertise across the Trust and works closely with all managers.