The winner for January is:

Miss Komal Bhuchhada, Physiotherapist, MSK, Peterborough

Komal was nominated by one of her patient’s after receiving physiotherapy at the Werrington Health Centre. The patient passed on his congratulations for her diligence, professionalism and knowledge, because she had in a very short time, helped to rid the best part of a nasty injury, which he had had since May 2012.

The patient was very wary of going for physio, as he had not had the best of luck before. Komal has been totally different; she worked out within minutes of arriving for his first appointment, what his problem was. She made sure he understood how she would look to provide him with a mixture of exercises which would help him to get better without the need for surgery, which would have meant him being unable to look after his disabled wife, who has M.S and is wheelchair bound.

Gradually, over the appointments, his rotator cuff injury has improved, not totally back to normal, but certainly “a darn sight better” than it has been over the last few years. The pain has been reduced, which is good as he also has Fibromyalgia, and he now has the ability to look after himself without having to resort to an operation which he had a 1 in 6 chance of happening. He only wishes he had met Komal a couple of years ago, when he first received the injury, as he is sure that his condition currently would have been an awful lot better. She has improved his life and also saved the NHS the cost of an operation, rehabilitation, a care package for his wife and I rehabilitation for himself. Wonderful service!

Other nominations this month were:

Kim Milligan, Recruitment Administrator, Ranstad Court, Luton

Kim was nominated by Rachel Kremer for making the recruitment process within the Luton Treatment Centre and the phlebotomy team so much easier. She organised everything that was necessary within a very short time frame and treated each case as an individual giving it her full attention. This means that time taken away clinically from nursing duties is minimal. She has 'shone' through the process.

Speech and Language Therapy, Cambridgeshire, Speech and Language Therapists and assistants

The team were commended by Lynn Millard for being a dynamic and innovative team of therapists and assistants working with families and children to support their communication needs. They were extremely fortunate to have been led by a well-respected and forward-thinking practitioner, Jane Speake, who has now retired. As a result, the whole team has undergone significant changes but has risen to the challenge in these changing times and have been positively involved in the transformation and redesign of the service. This includes embracing the Quality Service Improvement and Re-design program (QSIR) and actively taking on projects to compliment the values and objectives of CCS, without losing the crucial goal of ensuring the families receive the excellent care they require.

Members of the team regularly receive compliments and thanks from families who have valued their input and below are a couple of examples; “‘Thank you for helping my child have a voice”; “Lots of personal tips for specific children and lots of brilliant general advice has helped me think about my practise with all the children in my class. Thank you!”

Luton Single Point of Access Admin Hub, Luton Adult Services, Ranstad Court

Lynn Pantling nominated the Luton Single Point of Access (SPA) team in recognition of their hard work and dedication to their duties. The team are experiencing exciting but challenging times in Luton and the SPA team are an integral part of the integrated care that is delivered to patients within the Luton Community Unit. The SPA is extremely busy taking hundreds of telephone calls and referrals from patients, GPs and secondary care 7 days a week. They provide a first class administrative support to the Integrated Nursing Teams. We have recently reorganised the way our District Nursing teams are operating and throughout, the SPA team have delivered an amazing service through what have been difficult and challenging times.

They do this with their usual efficient, polite and friendly manner.  Those to particularly highlight are Sheron Palmer, Christine Williams, Dawn Faulkner and James North. They are the backbone of Luton Adult Services and wish their hard work and commitment to be recognised formally.

Luton Unit- Adult Services Single Point of Access (SPA), Telephone Referral Adviser/ Call Handler for SPA

The team were nominated by Augustina Williams as they are the first point of telephone contact for patients/carers and professionals who need to access adult community nursing services. They are required to work 7 days/ week/ 365 days a year. Many calls are from frail elderly patients/ carers, many with complex health needs, who maybe distressed, requiring health advice, or the clinical intervention of community nursing service. The team remain calm during such circumstances, which ultimately helps to calm the patient/ carer. The team are very hard working, professional and compassionate despite some very challenging circumstances and do their utmost to assist all callers.

Specialist Teams: Heart Failure, Tissue Viability, Anticoagulation, Luton Treatment Centre

Lynn Murphy nominated the teams for treating a patient who had had a cardiac arrest during a cardiac rehabilitation session held a Luton Treatment Centre. At this particular session the usual cardiac nurse from Luton & Dunstable Hospital was not present.

Lindsay Farmer (Heart Failure Nurse) started resuscitation and defibrillation and was quickly assisted by Janice Little (Tissue Viability) and Rachael Kremer (AntiCoag.) who were working in the building. They successfully resuscitated the patient and the Ambulance Service took patient to the hospital. Because of their joint effort, professionalism and expertise the patient survived and I am pleased to say has made a full recovery. As nurses we regularly complete our CPR mandatory training, but thankfully rarely need to use it. In this occasion it proved a life saver.

Pamela (Pam) Lambert, Health Visitor (Community Practice Teacher), Norfolk Healthy Child Programme (North & Broadland) Spixworth & Sprowston HV Team - Thorpe Health Centre

Pam was nominated by Wendy Simpson for working in the NHS for 42 years. She started her career as a Registered Nurse and developed this further by becoming a health visitor 31 years ago. She has been a Community Practice Teacher to many Student Health Visitors, including Wendy, over the last 12 years. Pam is very highly thought of and respected by both the families that she works with and her colleagues and peers alike. Pam's dedication and commitment to the patients, children and families that she has worked with during her long and illustrious career should be recognised and rewarded. Pam will be sorely missed from the health visiting service when she retires on 31st January 2016.

Di Butterfield, Clinical Nurse Specialist, iCaSH Norfolk-Kittywitches

Dianne Butterfield will have been working in the NHS for 50 years this year. She has worked as a clinical nurse specialist within this service for 15 years and during this time the service and roles have changed dramatically. Di works independently in clinic and always ensures she is up to date with all the changes. She is a valued member of the team and one who is always called for in times of need or for clinical advice. There have been struggles within clinical both before and after the tendering service and it is Di's continued enthusiasm and drive that has kept the team together and ensured patients trust and adherence to the service and taking their medications. Di is always supporting training of colleagues to drive the service forward. She has never received a patient complaint within 15 years of working here and is frequently requested by patients due to her kind nature and communication skills. She led a post natal contraceptive service until budget cuts meant this was no longer viable. We currently have no doctor support so Di is an integral part of the team helping with complex patients.

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