Local NHS heroes were recognised at the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Awards Ceremony where winners of 12 awards categories were announced, along with recognising members of staff with over 40 years NHS service.
Local civic dignitaries attended the event which was presided over by Trust Chairman, David Clayton-Smith. David Clayton-Smith, Trust Chairman said: “In the 70th year of the NHS it is right to celebrate the incredible work of our 6,500 plus staff. They perform a great job in our hospitals and in the community every day of the year. This award ceremony recognises those of our dedicated workforce who have given a little something extra, which has been admired by their colleagues and the people we serve. They all share a common theme of providing quality and excellence to our patients.”
The winners were as follows:
Enhancing Patient Experience, Safety and Care Award
The Frailty Practitioner Service won the Enhancing Patient Experience, Safety and Care Award – sponsored by idox Health
Frailty Practitioner Service
“Frailty practitioners have made a significant impact on the care of the older people living with frailty, including an 81% reduction in hospital admissions and 95% reduction in bed days.”
Health and Wellbeing Award
Dr Todd Leckie and Dr Ben Hardy, Junior doctors won the Health and Wellbeing Award – sponsored by Simplyhealth
Dr Todd Leckie acepting the award – Dr Ben Hardy was unable to attend
“Todd and Ben implemented the “Take 5” group to support the health and wellbeing of junior doctors. The group meet once a month to reflect and discuss stressful situations and offer support.”
Leadership Award
Caroline Lees, Occupational Therapy Professional Lead won the Leadership Award – sponsored by Eastbourne Motoring Centre Ltd
Caroline Lees (unable to attend the awards)
“Caroline has a breadth of experience who is passionate about Occupational Therapy and the difference it can make to the people who use the service. As a leader she listens and cares about her staff. She has a genuine open door policy.”
Quality Improvement Award
Podiatrists of the Diabetic Foot Clinic won the Quality Improvement Award – sponsored by Rye Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital
Podiatrists of the Diabetic Foot Clinic
“This team have developed a gold standard model of care for patients with diabetic foot ulcers, offering interventions in a timely manner to improve outcomes for patients.”
Personal Development Award
Janine Robus, Associate Practitioner won the Personal Development Award – sponsored by McCrudden Training
Janine Robus
“Janine recently completed her foundation degree in Ophthalmology. She has worked extremely hard to achieve this degree and coming in on days off to do extra training and had to balance study with family and work commitments. Janine has taken on extended roles in the department.”
Supporting Learning in the workplace Award
Peter Symons, Senior IT Trainer/Change Analyst won the Supporting Learning in the workplace Award – sponsored by LMDB Accountants
Peter Symons
“Peter has been invaluable in the training of Electronic Document Management .Pete ensures that his teaching sessions are clear and informative. He takes time to listen to queries and ideas and always keeps in contact to check everything is ok.”
Working in Partnership Award
The Safeguarding Team won the Working in Partnership Award – sponsored by UNISON
Safeguarding Team
“This team is a fabulous example of how to embrace change and fully integrate with other services to ensure enhanced patients’ safety, experience and care.”
Team of the Year Award
The Supportive and Palliative Care Team won the Team of the Year Award – sponsored by Big Hand
Supportive and Palliative Care Team
“This team have worked together to ensure they can provide the best possible care and support for those people and their families during the last 12 months of life. The team have implemented a whole range of interventions to ensure that every patient, relative and friends is treated with respect and compassion and that their wishes are understood and enacted wherever possible.”
Unsung heroes Administration and Clerical
Lauren Rahnavardan, Administrative Assistant EME won the Unsung heroes Administration and Clerical Award – sponsored by The Friends of Conquest Hospital
Lauren Rahnavardan
Her nomination said: “Lauren is a fundamental member of the team who maintains professionalism and a high standard of work, despite the workload that the team encounters daily all year round.”
Unsung heroes Allied Healthcare Professionals
David Kay, Physiotherapy Assistant won the Unsung heroes Allied Healthcare Professionals Award – sponsored by Millbrook Healthcare
David Kay
His nomination said: “David is a relatively new member of the stroke multidisciplinary team staff and the staff and patients are privileged to have him as part of our team.”
Unsung heroes Estates and Facilities
Pat Smith, Housekeeper won the Unsung heroes Estates and Facilities Award – sponsored by ESHT Charitable Funds.
Pat Smith
Her nomination said: “Pat is an amazing member of the team who ensures that the ward is kept immaculate and gleaming. She goes the extra mile, getting to know our patients and their dietary requirements. Our patients love Pat.”
Unsung heroes Health Care Assistants
Charlie Gepilga, Health Care Assistant won the Unsung heroes Health Care Assistants Award – sponsored by Friends of Eastbourne Hospital
Charlie Gepilga
“Charlie works diligently, quietly and very hard for patients on Hailsham 4. He is quick to attend to patients’ needs, making them comfortable. He builds a strong rapport with his patients and relaxes them in a subtle way with humour and conversation as he is carrying out his tasks.
People’s Choice Award
Holly Brett, Health Care Assistant won the People’s Choice Award – supported by the late Jeanie Sowerby and her family.
Holly Brett
Holly received the nomination from a grateful patient who said: “My mother was cared for on De Cham Ward for a week in February 2018. Holly was an outstanding support to my mother – cheerful, competent, caring and always interested in chatting to my mother, father and I who visited every day. We saw how Holly applied her kind and dedicated approach to all the patients on the ward, in particular those who were incapacitated. Holly’s incredible caring and cheerful support was invaluable. All my family would like to know that Holly is recognised for an outstanding level of care.”
70th Anniversary of the NHS
To mark the 70th Anniversary of the NHS two people were presented with a special NHS 70th Anniversary Awards sponsored by ESHT Charitable Funds.
Sean Gaughan, Cardiac Technician
Sean Gaughan
Sean recently retired from the cardiology department, after more than 40 years’ service to the NHS. He was Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist and Head of the Department for the majority of this time. He was always the consummate professional, loved by patients and colleagues alike, always smiling, always supportive. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him. His extensive knowledge of all aspects of cardiac physiology was always a real asset to the department and he is sorely missed.
Gina Moulding, Community Midwife
Gina Moulding
Gina has worked for the NHS for over 49 years, spending 43 of those years as a midwife in her local hospital. During her career, Gina has delivered approximately 5,000 babies and as a community midwife cared for over 3,000 women and has now cared for and delivered three generations of families. Her title as ‘the home-birth queen’ is legendary with her colleagues – she has enabled and advocated for women to achieve a safe homebirth often going above and beyond by making herself available on her days/nights off. She has supported families through the loss of a baby and at this devastating time, has offered on-going support for bereaved parents including attending funeral services in her own time. She is an inspiration to her colleagues and particularly to student midwives.
Chairman’s Award
Sara Parham-Jarrett, Theatre Nurse won the Chairman’s Award – sponsored by E.H. Warford Jewellers
Sara Parham-Jarrett
“Sara demonstrates the Trust’s values in everything she does. She is passionate about the education and training of staff and use innovative ways for staff to learn new things. She goes above and beyond expectation by undertaking fundraising for the services provided by the wider trust and constantly looking for ways to improve patients and staffs experience.”
Other sponsors who helped make the event possible
Cumberland Hotel, Funky Hampers.com, Hotter Shoes, La Locanda Del Duca, Lets2share, My trustbenifits, Pomodorro e Mozzareella, Red Guava, RL Catering, Consultancy & Training, Steve Christmas Life Planning Soluntions, Tesco, The Cooden Beach Hotel, Vygona and Waitrose.