Wrexham Pharmacist recognised with health award
A pharmacist from Wrexham Maelor Hospital, who is described by her colleagues as a ‘born teacher’, has received a special award.
Holly Stokes received the ‘Clinical Teacher of the Year’ award, sponsored by Bangor University, at this year’s Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Achievement Awards.
Holly goes above and beyond in her role, putting on extra tutoring, giving valued feedback, amending her teaching style to suit her audience, listening and responding positively to feedback. She regularly reviews and assesses how she both delivers her training material and also her assessment methods.
She is now studying at diploma level with a view to doing her Masters next year after completing a Certificate in Medical Education.
Patient Safety Lead Pharmacist for the East of BCUHB, Karen Pritchard, who nominated Holly for the award, said: “Holly was born to teach – this is echoed by the official medical school feedback in which Holly is also regularly commended.
“During Quality Monitoring visits and in placement reports our students have the opportunity to name professionals they have encountered who have substantially improved the placement as a learning experience and Holly has been nominated several times by students.
“The impact on patient care is improved prescribing skills which benefit the organisation as many of these students will be employed by BCUHB as junior doctors in the future.
“She has also been pivotal in organising and facilitating a practice on-call scenario for medical students in preparation for their role as a junior doctor, which is above and beyond her role.
“Holly delivered intensive practical prescribing training to final year medical students. Results showed that all students demonstrated a vast improvement in both their confidence and competence. This work was submitted to the STEME conference (Sharing Training Excellence in Medical Education) and won the runner-up award in its category.”
The awards, sponsored by Centreprise International, celebrate the outstanding achievements of NHS staff from across North Wales.
Jeremy Nash, Chief Executive of Centerprise International, said: “It was a privilege to be the headline sponsor at the Health Board’s Achievement Awards for the third year running. The Awards served as an excellent opportunity to recognise all of the amazing people working within the NHS across North Wales.
“Centerprise is committed to supporting the Welsh community and NHS in equal measure. We were delighted to be represented at the Awards, which was a wonderful celebration of the incredible efforts of the Health Board and its committed staff.”
Dr Lynne Williams, who presented the award on behalf of Bangor University, said: “It was clear from Holly’s nomination that she cares greatly for the students she supports at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
“All three finalists showed a clear dedication to providing quality training and developing the skills of healthcare workers in North Wales.”