Teams and individual members of staff from across our Trust have been given You Made a Difference Awards for their outstanding work supporting patients and colleagues.

Nursing teams on three wards, Bluebell A, Bluebell B, and Foxglove, were given their awards for their incredible work caring for the sickest of our Covid-19 patients.

More recently, all three teams have commenced site rotation to ensure acute respiratory patients can be cared for at both our hospitals. The cross-site working required immense collaboration between the Bluebell and Foxglove wards.

The three teams ensured our sickest patients received the best possible care and did so with enthusiasm and a smile on their face. Because of their efforts, we can maintain respiratory wards on both sites, with effectively one big team covering the three wards.

They were nominated by matron Annette Curran, who wrote: “The nurses’ willingness to change, learn, and adapt makes me proud to be their matron. The number of challenges and changes asked of them they rise above each time.”

Chief Nurse Kathryn Halford presented the awards to the nursing teams on the three wards.

Ana Blanco, a junior sister in the Ambulatory Care Unit, received an award after being nominated by a patient, for explaining to them what scans and tests would be carried out, accompanying them to a different department for the test, and making sure the patient’s report was sent to their GP.

In the nomination, the patient said: “From the moment I arrived in the department, Ana put me at ease. She was caring, reassuring, and extremely professional at all times.

“I could tell that this nurse loved her job and dealing with patients. She certainly deserves this award.”

Ana was presented her award by our Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Aleks Hammerton.

Nassib Gungoo, a care pathway facilitator received two nominations from colleagues who both praised him for going above and beyond to help the team in Mandarin A.

Ashmita Devkota, a sister on the ward, said: “Nassib has been very passionate about his job. He has gone the extra mile by finding solutions to problems that the nurses are facing in the

Colleague Khemta Dookhy, a healthcare assistant, agreed and said much of what Nassib did was not in his job description. Khemta said: “During the pandemic, he helped with beds and whenever we needed something he was always ready to help and contribute to the ward.

“He does help staff whether on Mandarin A, Mandarin B or King George Hospital. He was always happy to stay beyond his hours to help when needed.”

Vicky Robles, a staff nurse on Sahara B, was nominated by a patient who described her as “very gentle, attentive, and patient”.

They wrote: “She would always describe what she was doing and kept us in the know about things even when we couldn't understand the medical lingo.

“I believe she deserves this award due to this and because she often made me laugh even when I was very scared and upset.”

Neuro Physiotherapist Laura Sillitoes, who works on Sahara B, was recognised for supporting a neurosurgery “super clinic” which saw 125 patients last month.

It was expected that only 20 to 30 patients would require her service on the day but almost every patient needed physiotherapy and Laura worked tirelessly to provide them all with the treatment they needed.

Laura was nominated by Laura Bryan, Interim Specialty Manager in Neurosciences, who said: “We had no way of knowing her services would be in such high demand on the day and she was a trooper who worked without complaint to ensure every patient referred to her got seen.

“Our patients could not sing her praises high enough and we would like to ensure she knows how much she is appreciated and how much value she added to the service for our patients.”

Deputy Chief Executive Ben Morrin was on hand to present the award to Laura.

If you know a member of staff who always goes above and beyond for their colleagues and patients, why not nominate them for a You Made a Difference Award? Further details and the nomination form can be found on our website.