Seren Betsi surprise for Neonatal Nurse helping families take active role in their infant's care
A dedicated Glan Clwyd nurse whose innovative approach to involving families in the care of their poorly or newborn babies has won a healthcare award.
Senior Staff Nurse Angela Hannah won a Seren Betsi Star award for her work to introduce a new model of care to the unit which helps families take a more active role in care.
Family Integrated Care (FIC) involves providing extra training and support to families to help them participate in the care normally provided by nursing staff on the unit. This includes helping parents play an active role with naso-gastric feeding, nappy changes, bathing, and providing oral medications.
The work has helped families spend more time with their children on the unit, and take an active role in the care they provide.
Angela was nominated for the award by her former colleague Caren Radcliffe, who said: “Angela represents all of the Health Board’s values, in particular putting patients first, working together and learning and innovating.
“Parents often describe a feeling of loss of control or that their baby belongs to the neonatal staff and not to them. This may lead to difficulty in building positive relationships with their baby, which may be long lasting.
“The work Angela’s completed in introducing the FIC model has really changed the way our nurses deliver care.
“The team has gone from the more traditional role of being the primary carer for babies, to working as part of a much wider multi-disciplinary team which includes the baby’s family.
“Angela is such an enthusiastic nurse and we are so proud of her achievement. We are lucky to have her as part of the workforce."
Angela was presented with the award as part of a surprise visit by the Health Board’s Executive Director of Therapies and Health Sciences Adrian Thomas.
Angela said: “It’s a huge surprise to win this award. I couldn’t have done it without the rest of the team here on the unit, my colleagues here are absolutely fantastic.”
“Family Integrated Care is making a huge difference to the families of poorly babies across North Wales, and I’m really privileged to have been able to lead this piece of work.”
Executive Director of Therapies and Health Sciences Adrian Thomas said: Having a baby in the Neonatal Unit is extremely stressful for parents and often has an impact on the long term physical, psychological and emotional health of both the parents and their baby.
“Angela has introduced a model which is baby and parent centred, promoting parent-infant interactions to help build more positive relationships.
“It’s obvious from the response Angela had from her colleagues how much they valued her efforts in introducing Family Integrated Care at Glan Clwyd Hospital.”
NHS staff across North Wales can nominate colleagues who have gone above and beyond in contributing to health services for a Seren Betsi Star award. Award winners are selected by a panel of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board staff, with a monthly winner selected for a surprise presentation in their place of work.