Caring staff and people who work at the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, have been honoured and celebrated at the annual Shining Lights awards.
It included the dedication of a mortuary and bereavement services manager towards deceased families, a team which led the hospital towards becoming top in the UK for its treatment to patients treated for a hip fracture and a volunteer who came in on Christmas Day dressed as Father Christmas.
The ceremony was held in the hospital restaurant with 17 awards handed out following more than 250 nominations being received from hospital, community staff and the public.
They were given to individuals or teams who have shown particularly outstanding dedication and excellence in the care of their patients, or the initiative to drive through service improvements in the hospital or out in the community.
Among the awards presented at the ceremony, held last Thursday, were Employee of the Year, Clinical Team of the Year, Non-Clinical Team of the Year, Inspirational Leadership, Community Team of the Year and My WiSH Charity Champion and Volunteer of the Year.
The Employee of the Year Award of Excellence went to Tracey Green, mortuary and bereavement services manager. Her colleagues described her care towards the deceased and their families as “second to none” and that she demonstrates completely how health services care for people from the beginning of their life to the very end.
The Clinical Team of the Year Award of Excellence went to the multi-disciplinary hip fracture team who led the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to becoming the top hospital in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for meeting best practice criteria for patients treated for a hip fracture as rated by The National Hip Fracture Database.
Mick Mellon received the Volunteer of the Year Award of excellence.
He volunteers on ward G8, the ward that predominantly treats patients who have had a stroke.
Staff that Mick works alongside said he is “a great tonic for patients and staff” and that the contribution he makes is “invaluable.”
He even came in to the hospital on Christmas Day dressed as Father Christmas to hand out presents and cards to patients on the ward.
Sheila Childerhouse, chair of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I have been with the Trust for a relatively short period of time having joined only in January this year, however, I’ve already witnessed countless occasions where colleagues have gone above and beyond in their line of work.
“I think what really stands out from the event is that it’s both the small things, as well as the big things, that should be celebrated in the NHS.
“Our hip fracture team’s quality care has transformed the lives of many of their patients who have needed their services, something to be rightly proud of.
“One of our volunteers who found a teddy bear to comfort a patient with dementia, went that extra mile with compassion and made the world of difference to that individual. It all counts, individuals, teams, small or large gestures, all add up to a Trust which really is outstanding.”
The full list of award winners are:
Employee of The Year: Tracey Green.
Lifetime Achievement: Sarah Gull.
Inspirational Leadership: Gylda Nunn.
Non-Clinical Team of the Year: Housekeeper team.
Clinical Team of the Year: Hip fracture team.
Community Team of the Year: Sudbury community team.
The David Dumbleton Porter of the Year: Jorge Costa.
Outstanding Contribution to Education: Helen Ballam.
Living Our Values: Dale Boustead.
Service Improvement: Radiology room one team.
Innovation Award: Dr Alex Brown.
Excellent Contribution in a Non-Clinical Area: Angela Price.
Outstanding Contribution to Quality of Care: Dr Andy McBride.
Rising Star: Liz Patrick.
Volunteer of the Year: Mick Mellon.
Patient Choice: Ros Burrows.
My WiSH Charity Champion: Tonie Armstrong.
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