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.

Our Winners for September 2020 are Alyson Chastell, Lead Dental Nurse, Peterborough and Alex Keep, Communications Manager

Alyson Chastell, Lead Nurse, Dental Healthcare Peterborough

Alyson was nominated by nine colleagues for this month’s Shine a Light award! The wonderful feedback is listed below.

Rachael Luckhurst said: “Since Alyson has been in role she has been the glue within our nursing team, always ready to help but whilst we have been working through the COVID-19 lockdown, originally as a Hot Clinic providing urgent care for dental patient covering Cambridgeshire, this is where Alyson really shone! Always ready to help, discuss staff worries and wobbles through this difficult time, I personally found Alyson like family not just a work colleague. Alyson always provides solutions with a kind word and smile and through these difficult unprecedented times Alyson kept our mental health and wellbeing on track. Alyson has had to deal with so much during this time as well as overseeing building working in our extended refurnished department. I personally don't think I or the dental team would have smiled and laughed so much thorough this unprecedented time if wasn't down to Alyson.”

Alisha Fogarty nominated Alyson for making a difference every day. Alisah said: “She is always available to help and support, especially during the lock down period, she has had many challenging days which she has shined through!  She always has a smile and is always positive.”

Sarah Primrose said: “2020 has been a nightmare year full of changes but Alyson has embraced the challenge, keeping us all informed of the ever changing policies and procedures, keeping spirits up and understanding staffs different reactions to the pandemic with compassion. We were in the middle of major building renovations which made our working life more difficult as well as working around builders and mess. Our building had a flood last week when a storm drain under the new floor burst leaving staff devastated as the new building work had only just been finished. Alyson got everything sorted and we were back on track within the week. Alyson is an exceptional individual and deserves the shine a light award.”

Trudy Stocker said: “Alyson took on the lead dental nurse roll in 2019 and has really stepped up to the plate on a daily basis. When Covid struck the country and we went into lockdown in March, Alyson had to organise all the nurses into functional groups, arrange staff to cover other clinics, ensure we were all compliant with and understanding of the new SOP around Covid. She arranged social distancing within the practice and all of this on top of her regular dental nursing requirements plus liaising between the builders, ourselves and Rebecca Morris, Project Manager whilst during this time extensive building work was also taking place.

“It hasn't stopped there. Last Monday (17 Aug) we walked into the building as normal and everywhere was pretty much under 3 inches of water. We had had a major flood. Alyson took control immediately, arranging for CBRE, I.T. and OCS to attend and for Rebecca Morris and Julia Hallam-Seagrave to be informed and patients cancelled. I really believe that without Alyson's quick and purposeful intervention, the practice would not have been up and running by the end of that week. To see the transformation from the start to the end of the week was amazing and she deserves full credit for it.”

Sue Howe said: “I would just like to back up Trudy Stocker’s nomination for Alyson. The team headed by Julia Hallam-Seagrave have done so well during Covid but Alyson has been amazing especially managing the flood at Midgate last week so soon after the completion of the building work which continued during Covid. Alyson is definitely worthy of Shine a Light award.”

Nicola Benton nominated Alyson for organising and supporting the dental nurses and reception team, supporting the dentists and management as well as carrying out her usual dental nursing duties. Nicola said: “Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Alyson has gone above and beyond in her role of supporting the team, from organising functional unit teams, ensuring the whole team were up to date with the ever changing guidelines and SOP, organising social distancing within the building and dealing with and organising the building works for the refurbishment and most recently dealing with a flood within the practice without delay, which enabled the service to resume within a couple of days. Alyson is always a big support to everyone in the team and during lockdown she made time to speak to everyone individually to ensure we were all ok and coping with what was going on. If there is one person who deserves the recognition for what they do, it is Alyson. She is dedicated, hardworking and is an immense support.”

Fiona Daintith said: “Throughout the challenges of working through the recent Covid Crisis Alyson has gone above and beyond supporting and leading the team. As if this wasn't difficult enough she has been managing our recent refurbishment so has not only had to contend with us but the mess and workmen too. On 17 of August we came in to find the building flooded with no working telephones or computers! She was calm and professional and was more concerned with staff's safety and making sure the premises were safe above anything else. Three cheers for Alyson she has been amazing making time and supporting us all.

Virginia Godwin said: “After having to deal with the Covid 19 situation, there was quite a big flood at our practice where Alyson went above and beyond to get the practice up and running. She has been an amazing person throughout this very difficult time.”

Julia Hallam-Seagrave nominated Alyson after receiving a phone call from Alyson stating that a storm drain had burst and the Peterborough Dental Access Centre was underwater. Julia said: “The clinic was in the final stages of a refurbishment and expansion including a new dental surgery. Alyson has gone over and above in dealing with the fall out of the flood, working with estates, relocating clinical staff, dealing with patient queries and concerns as well exploring long term options as to how the service can continue to function whilst the building dries out. She has done all this whilst maintaining positivity and good humour. She has acted with professionalism, clear thinking and leadership skills way above her job role.”

What wonderful nominations, truly going above and beyond – well done Alyson

Our second winner this month is: Alex Keep, Communications Manager

Alex was nominated by Linda Flack, School Nurse lead for Cambs for always being so willing to support their project meetings and he is always motivated and full of solutions for the team. Linda said: “He always listens to peoples’ ideas and finds a way to use these ideas for the desired outcome. He is currently supporting our two SCPHN students to complete some work to meet their competencies which is just great for them and will broaden their thinking for future practice.

“We wouldn't be able to promote our ChatHealth services without Alex's support and input.  He is such an approachable person and always willing to share his knowledge and skills with us all, ensuring he talks to us in a language we understand. Alex is such an asset to the Trust and I am not sure he knows how good he is at what he does and how highly thought of he is by us all.”

Outstanding work Alex, well done!

Other nominations this month included:

Reem Al-Refaie, Foundation Dentist, Midgate, Peterborough

Sue Howe nominated Reem for all her hard work over the past few months. Sue said: “Reem has gone above and beyond what her position asked of her. She stepped up and set up the triaging system for dental. She kept us laughing as the Corona Crier when we were in the thick of it. We and the service will miss her as she moves on in her career.”

Elinor Japp, Senior Dental Officer, Dental HealthCare, Wisbech

Elinor was nominated by the Wisbech dental team for being an absolute rock during these trying times. The team said: “Elinor was instrumental in setting up and implementing the functional unit teams throughout all sites within Cambs Dental HealthCare. She has gone above and beyond to support her colleagues, coming in on short notice on rest days and covering sickness. She has been an emotional support and has been a sympathetic ear to any of us having anxieties about the "new normal" and has kept us all grounded. Her can do no nonsense attitude is contagious and she often provides us with some well needed comic relief in times of particular stress (Covid haka being a great example!).

“We truly feel that none of this would have run so smoothly and effectively without Elinor and she is most definitely someone to have on side in a crisis. We feel blessed to be able to call her not only a colleague, but a friend too. Thank you Elinor!”

Wonderful nominations again this month, congratulations to everyone who was nominated!