This award is an opportunity for patients, families, visitors and Trust colleagues to say ‘thank you – you made a difference’ to a member of staff or a team for anything (however small!) that helped make their experience of our services better.

The winner for November is:

Sally Shaw, Team Leader and the Integrated Discharge Team, based at the L&D Hospital Luton

Tracy Fitzsimmons nominated Sally and the team after receiving an email from the Director of Transformation at Luton and Dunstable Hospital where their GP Liaison/Integrated Discharge Team are based. The email highlights the really excellent achievements Sally’s team make under her leadership.  

The feedback said “I wanted to say a huge thank you to and your team for the extra effort put into helping us turnaround yesterday’s crisis. I know how hard you all work and the challenges faced on a daily basis, yet despite this we were able to achieve what other hospitals struggle to achieve and get ourselves to a better place this morning. It’s all about team work!

Congratulations to Sally on winning this month’s award.

Other nominations included:

Chris Sharp, Matron, Infection Control, St Ives

Chris was commended by Sue Johnson for being instrumental in ensuring that staff are offered an opportunity to receive the flu jab in innovative ways. If the organisation can look after staff then the staff will look after the service users. It is easy to get recognised for good practice if you are patient facing but actually more difficult for staff that are not. Without Chris working with staff to enable them to receive this injection at work more staff could possibly become infected. He attended their team meeting so staff were able to complete consent forms and receive the injection throughout the morning with no disruption to service delivery.

Sue wanted to personally thank Chris as previously she has never received the flu jab, although it has been offered, as she has a needle phobia. As Sue’s personal circumstances had changed and it was important for her to receive this. Although she was extremely nervous Chris was incredibly patient, took it at her pace and enabled Sue to get over her nerves and receive this injection.

Jen Deacon, Early Years Co-ordinator, Cambridge, Early Support Team, Ida Darwin, Cambridge

Jen was nominated by Lynne Millard for being a crucial member of the Early Support Team and is often the first 'port of call' for families when they need help and advice. Her empathy and calm nature is reassuring for both families and support staff alike. She listens carefully, is knowledgeable and will always do what she says she will do. Recent feedback from the parents of a child with additional needs is that 'Jen Deacon is an amazing professional.

Kelly-Anne Daniels, Therapy Assistant, MSK Physiotherapy

Sarah Wylson nominated Kelly for making a huge impact on the department since starting her post in December 2014. She has helped to organise and clear the department, taken responsibility for regular ordering of equipment, providing new assistance with the Physio Direct telephone service, directing calls and optimising on the Physiotherapy staff's clinical time with callers. As well as teaching exercise classes, assisting with patient 1:1 treatments, setting up a gym, assisting in a large patient survey, making useful suggestions and always being positive to work requests made of her. The quality and efficiency of this service has been significantly improved by her work and the team are most grateful for all she has contributed.

Jameela Zaman, Community Staff Nurse, Ranstad Court Luton

Cindy Guerin commended Jameela for her involvement with a very complex case regarding a cancer patient who wanted to be cared for at home. Jameela reflected against the 6 C's whilst caring for this gentleman. Using her knowledge and skill to deliver on a very complex case and nursing skills. She was caring, compassionate and showed empathy towards the patient and his family throughout difficult phases of his care. Nothing was too much for her and she supported her team and wider team members using set values and behaviours throughout her time with the patient. That enabled him to die peacefully in his preferred place of care at home with his family around him at a very difficult emotional time for his family.

Debbie Beeton, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, Children's Therapy, Princess of Wales Hospital

Debbie was nominated by Susie Robertson, for being the backbone of their team in East Cambs! She always has so much to do but always does it in an organised and efficient manner. Debbie goes above and beyond her role in supporting the team and also as individuals in both SLT and personal issues. The team have nothing but wonderful things to say about Debbie. She can always see things from a families' perspective and often spots potential issues that might arise. She was recently asked directions by an elderly patient to another department. She not only explained where he needed to go but organised a wheelchair to take him. Debbie had such a warm and professional manner and showed genuine care. She frequently stops whatever she is doing to take time to direct or help patients and their families.

Although Debbie is always having to juggle several tasks at once, and despite her role not being clinical, she always puts patients first. She is a shinning light in our team! She does not realise how much we all rely on her but we so appreciate everything she does.

Susan (known as Debbie) Boekee, Children's Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, Children’s Services, Wisbech

Shagufta Dalal nominated Debbie for being an invaluable member of their team. She is always available to step in whenever the need arises. During a period of time when there was an issue with staffing, she helped run a therapy group which meant that children could access the ongoing therapy that they needed. This is just one example out of many of how she is truly an invaluable team member and her hard work and flexible approach are greatly appreciated and an asset.

Other comments from the team include:

Debbie is always calm and positive, supportive and respectful to all staff.  She is thorough, efficient, reliable, resourceful, thoughtful and kind. 

Debbie always has time for fellow colleagues and has a great sense of humour and rapport with children.  She is incredibly welcoming to new starters, putting lots of time aside to offer help and support at a time when most valued.

She provides crucial support to the clinical work of the team and has been happily going over to Parkview clinic to ensure therapists aren't lone working, including at short notice.

This month’s nominations were of an extremely high standard, well done to you all!