Making a Difference - Award Winners

A UHDB surgical ward has been commended for continuing to put the needs of their patients first during what has undoubtedly been an extremely difficult period for the team on a personal level.

In addition to sadly seeing a number of their patients pass away throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Ward 307 at Royal Derby Hospital, which typically treats both Head and Neck and Ophthalmology patients, was also rocked last month by the loss of a member of the team.

Despite the tragic loss of a beloved colleague, the Ward 307 team’s commitment to their patients has never wavered, with staff also really stepping up at our Trust’s time of need by facilitating time-critical surgeries and adapting to support other ward areas with different specialities.   

This has included caring for patients with head injuries and also accommodating high numbers of complex patients with Covid-19 who have undergone a tracheostomy.

The key role that the Ward 307 team has played in keeping these patients safe cannot be overstated, with Krishna Kallianpur, Interim Chief Nurse, paying the team a surprise visit to present them with a Team UHDB Award, to say thank you.

She said: “The team has done exceptionally well in difficult and emotional circumstances; losing a colleague and a lot of long-term patients throughout Covid. Despite this, they have all worked so hard and have changed specialties to support other patients across the organisation.

“The team has adapted fantastically to help keep our patients as safe as possible and should feel very proud about all they’ve done.”

Nicola Tomlinson, Ward 307 Senior Sister, added: “The last few months have been really tough, as we’ve lost our colleague Chris and quite a few long-term patients. Despite this though, the team have all been so great and have really pulled together – I’m really proud of all of them.”

Staff on a Royal Derby Hospital surgical ward have been praised for the incredible lengths they have gone to during the COVID-19 pandemic to help our patients and colleagues alike. 

Ward 309 colleagues have been working flat out throughout the last few months and have managed to maintain close to 100% bed capacity during this whole period – which is among the highest rate across UHDB.

Usually a colorectal and upper gastroenterology ward, the team have also cared for those in specialties that they wouldn’t normally see, such as vascular, urology and hepato-biliary (HPB) patients, in order to help the Trust deal with increased demand in other services.

The whole Ward 309 team have truly risen to the additional challenges brought about by COVID-19 and so thoroughly deserved to be presented with a Team UHDB Award, as a small token of the whole Trust’s appreciation for their efforts.

June Friend, ward sister, said: “The last few months have been hard but everybody has been so positive throughout. We’re a very patient-focused ward and, even though families haven’t been able to see their loved ones, we’ve tried to involve them as much as possible in everything we do.

“This is such an amazing, hardworking team that never says no. I love my job and I know that everyone on this ward does too. I’m so proud of them all. From the nurses, to the HCAs, everyone has played their part, so it means a lot to have won this award.”

Krishna Kallianpur, Interim Chief Nurse, presented the team with their award, and added: “Where other wards may have seen dips in numbers, you have dealt with high patient acuity all the way through Covid.

“It has taken a sustained effort from everyone in the team to maintain close to 100% capacity throughout the whole pandemic, so this award is our way of recognising just how fantastic you have all been. Despite changing specialties, you have still managed to maintain such high standards throughout and should all feel very proud of your efforts.”  

Porters at the Royal Derby Hospital have been recognised for the exceptional care they have provided throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

These often unsung heroes are the heartbeat of our hospitals, making sure goods and items are delivered where they are needed most. They also make sure patients are at the right place at the right time to get the treatment they need.

When patients are staying with us in our hospitals, our porters make sure every patient has the most stress free and comfortable visit possible and for them, their key achievement is to succeed in this with care, humour, and compassion. Throughout the pandemic, our porters have also been a friendly face to chat to whilst our patients haven’t been able to have their loved ones come to visit them in hospital.  

To thank the team for the work they have done throughout the pandemic, Amanda Rawlings, Executive Director of People and Organisational Development, surprised some of the team with one of our “Team UHDB” Making a Difference Awards. She said: “I wanted to take this opportunity today to come and visit some of you to thank you for the work you have been doing to support our patients and staff throughout these difficult times. You guys have played such an important role in our fight against Coronavirus.”

Mick Smith, Porter at Royal Derby Hospital said: “It has been tough for us all, but as a team, I’m really proud of what we have all achieved, recognition like this makes us feel like we haven’t been forgotten about and really makes us feel like what we’re doing is worthwhile. I really appreciate you coming to visit us today.”

It is important as a Trust that we don’t forget to thank and celebrate our fantastic staff who are working their socks off behind-the-scenes to support our frontline teams – our porters are just a few of the Hidden Hospital Heroes we have at Team UHDB.

If you know a UHDB member of staff or team who should be recognised for their exceptional work, you can nominate them for a monthly Making a Difference Award by emailing uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net.​

Our porters at QHB were recognised with the same award back in March 2020. Read their write up here.

Blood, sweat and tears have all been shed to keep our patients safe throughout Covid-19 and this has certainly been true of our Phlebotomy teams, who have been recognised for their outstanding efforts.

Colleagues working in our blood clinics have worked non-stop throughout the pandemic to ensure that this vital service has been able to carry on and UHDB patients have been able to continue to undergo blood tests.  

The Phlebotomy teams have dealt with huge amounts of orders for patients’ bloods to be taken, with colleagues at Royal Derby Hospital, Queen’s Hospital Burton and London Road Community Hospital also working tirelessly to carry out vast numbers of staff Covid antibody testing.

This commitment has also been mirrored at our community hospitals in Lichfield and Tamworth, with the walk-in blood clinic at Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital being temporarily closed during the peak of the pandemic and relocated under one roof at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital.

Phlebotomy have responded fantastically well to the huge demands for the service, with a new online booking system being set up to make it easier than ever for patients to book their blood test appointments in advance at any one of UHDB’s five hospitals.

It was only right then that the Trust acknowledged all of this hard work by awarding Phlebotomy a Team UHDB Award.

Laura Randall, Phlebotomy Team Leader at Royal Derby Hospital, said: “We were all very shocked to receive this award but it is so nice to have got this recognition. It is easy to get into the routine of just doing your job and not realising the difference you’re making, so it is amazing to feel appreciated in this way.”

Amanda Rawlings, Executive Director of People and Organisational Development, added: “I’d like to congratulate our Phlebotomy teams for the fantastic job they’ve done maintaining this vital service throughout Covid-19. The volume of work that they have got through in the last few months has been incredible, so I’m really proud to be able to offer this recognition for the outstanding work they’ve done.”  

The invaluable work that has gone on over the last few months to offer support to our #UHDBheroes has been recognised with a Team UHDB Award.  

Looking after our colleagues and protecting their physical and emotional wellbeing has been one of the Trust’s key priorities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

UHDB’s Occupational Health and Wellbeing team have been at the forefront of the Trust’s response to the unprecedented challenges brought on by Covid-19, with the team developing a new risk reduction assessment process to keep staff safe who could potentially be vulnerable to the virus.  

Those colleagues who have tested positive for Coronavirus and have had to isolate at home have also benefitted from a post-Covid rehabilitation pathway created by Occupational Health to help support them back to health and back to work.

The last few months have undoubtedly placed a lot of strain on many people’s mental health, with the team running emotional wellbeing training courses for staff as a result, as well as signposting colleagues to available support, such as the Employee Assistance Programme and self-care wellbeing apps.

After playing such an integral role dealing with the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19, the Occupational Health and Wellbeing team were presented with their award by Amanda Rawlings, Executive Director of People and Organisational Development.

Presenting the team with their award, Amanda said: “It gives me huge pleasure to be able to present this award to my own team, who I know have worked so hard. You’ve been the unsung heroes behind the scenes, dealing with unprecedented volumes of work. The last few months have been enormously challenging but I know just how well you’ve handled this, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.”