Nursing staff recognised with special new awards
11 May 2023
A new set of awards for nursing and midwifery staff helped mark this year’s celebrations for the International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.
The Senior Nursing team at the Health Board opened nominations for the new BCU Nursing and Midwifery Awards in March that saw nearly 100 nominations from across North Wales.
The winning nursing staff received their awards this week from Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Angela Wood along with senior nursing staff.
Angela said: “I am so proud we have staff in this organisation who demonstrate our values and show them on a day to day basis.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the responses we’ve had to our first nursing awards. We had close to 100 nominations across our eight categories, and it was a real honour to pick a set of winners.
“I’ve been privileged to go out into the organisation and speak to nurses and midwives in their wards and departments and hear what nursing and midwifery means to them, and how we can support them in the right way.”
The winners were…
Registered Nurse of the Year
Paula Platt – Special Care Baby Unit, Ysbyty Gwynedd
‘Fantastic’ Neonatal Nurse Platt was recognised for her tireless efforts caring for premature and poorly babies receiving care at Ysbyty Gwynedd, even coming in on days off to support colleagues.
Her nominator, Owen Wilson, a Paediatrics Registrar at Ysbyty Gwynedd, said: “Over the years I have worked with Paula she has proven time and again to go above and beyond what is expected of any single nurse.
“She always shrugs off my appreciation as if it is no big deal but I am in no doubt that multiple babies have benefitted greatly from her giving up her free time.
“She always performs her care with a smile and whenever I ask for help from her she is there and always knows what to do.”
Registered Midwife of the Year
Jade Cole, Wrexham Maelor Hospital
A busy year for Jade has seen her take on a new role as a peri-prem champion for the East Integrated Health Community, as part of a Wales-wide programme to improve neonatal outcomes for premature babies. Jade also demonstrated her kindness and compassion outside of work when she waded into a lake to save a local resident in distress, sitting with them for an hour whilst waiting for emergency services to arrive.
Her nominator, Jade Jones, said: “Jade is an outstanding Midwife and we are very fortunate to have her as part of our team. Every time Jade is on shift she lifts the mood on the unit with her positive and friendly attitude.”
Unregistered Nursing or Midwifery Staff of the Year
Lisa Stephenson, Healthcare Support Worker, Theatres, Glan Clwyd Hospital
Lisa has shown outstanding dedication and passion for nursing during her 20-year career at Glan Clwyd Hospital. From focusing on supporting patient nutrition, hydration and pressure sore prevention to taking junior members of staff under her wing, Lisa is known for her outstanding support for patients and her colleagues.
Lisa’s nominator, Lois Jones, said: “I have worked with Lisa as a Band 5 newly qualified nurse, as a senior nurse and now in my career as an ANP for surgery. Throughout my years I have never seen anything less than 100 per cent from Lisa, and is a credit to the Health Board.
“Lisa’s passion, dedication and enthusiasm has never waivered and this deserves recognition.”
Digital Champion
Sexual Health Team, West IHC
The team has worked tirelessly to develop new digital resources to support their patients, revolutionising the way they engage with service users.
“Innovations and developments include an online enquiry form for patients unable to call during appointment line hours, self-assessment forms for contraception and PrEP services, and a new online booking system in the pipeline. The enhanced efforts to engage with patients have led to a significant reduction in complaints and improved service user experience. “
Small Department Making a Big Difference
Paediatric Continence Team, West IHC
The three-person team delivers Healthy Bladder and Bowel sessions to 9-11 year old children across Gwynedd and Anglesey, supporting education on wetting and constipation. The sensitive subject among this age group is approached in a fun, engaging way, with participants using fancy dress (including teachers dressed as toilets!), and play, backed up by clinical advice and research, to break down stigmas.
The team also oversee toilet-training resources for the families of all 16-month olds in the region, and continue the engagement with appearances at events like the Anglesey Show to further reach out to families.
Learner of the Year
Sabeena Cyriac, Heddfan Unit, Wrexham
Sabeena’s efforts to develop and improve patient wellbeing at the Heddfan Unit stretch beyond developing her own understanding of the importance of physical healthcare. As well as studying and developing her own knowledge, she has also supported colleagues in learning and developing their skills too, leading to taking the new link role for a physical health care suite currently being developed.
Sabeena has ambitions of training to be an ANP to further develop nurse led care and physical inclusion for patients within Mental Health.
Most Improved Environment for Patients
Maternity Unit, Glan Clwyd Hospital
Patient feedback has been at the heart of improvements made to the Maternity Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital. Upgrades to bathrooms, fixtures and fittings and décor throughout have brightened up the unit.
Renovations also include the development of an improved spa-style Midwifery Led Unit complete with mood lighting, fixed birthing pool with sunken lights and surround-sound, as well as a home-from-home room in the delivery suite which supports mobility for more women on the unit.
A virtual tour of the refreshed unit has also been developed, giving families using the unit a taste of facilities before they visit.
Innovation Award
Sharon Jones, Onnen Ward, Wrexham Maelor Hospital
After receiving low C4C results, Sharon developed the Bay Buster initiative, to ensure that there was a team collaborative approach to improve standards.
Each bay has designated team members as the champions for that bay; this is a mixture of Health Care Support Workers, Registered Nurses and both day and night staff. Each team are responsible for keeping their area clutter free, clean and tidy and ensuring that all information boards are up to date. Patients are encouraged not to hoard items on their tables and locker tops and families are asked not to bring excess items into hospital and to take home dirty clothing etc. in a timely manner.
The champions work alongside the domestic team to aid weekly turnouts of the bays and the Matron and Ward Sister undertake senior walk rounds of the ward (incorporated into the environmental audits) and judge the best kept bay. That bay then gets to display a small trophy for the week and their achievement celebrated on safety huddle.
The programme turned around the ward's C4C performance, improved HCAI rates, and reduced the number of patient falls.
Her efforts were presented at the ‘All-Wales Infection Prevention and Control Spring Forum’ in Cardiff this March, receiving phenomenal feedback from colleagues across Wales, who are now looking to roll it out in their local areas.