Making a Difference - Award Winners

The public’s ongoing support for our staff throughout Covid-19 has been truly humbling; with the numbers of different donations we’ve received literally going into the hundreds.

Ensuring that all of these generous donations reach our colleagues has taken a monumental effort from our Charity Hub and Donations teams, so it was fitting then that they both received Team UHDB Awards this week.

From boxes of chocolates, to toiletries bags, we’ve thankfully received hundreds of types of different gifts from our communities, with our Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity Hub and Donations teams doing a fantastic job making sure that they are all distributed fairly across our five hospitals.

Jo Rivers, Temporary Donations Coordinator, has been managing donations at Queen’s Hospital Burton, with the team also distributing gifts across Sir Robert Peel and Samuel Johnson Community Hospitals.

After being surprised with the Making a Difference Award by Chief Executive Gavin Boyle, she remarked: “It's been a labour of love but I've loved every second of working in the charity team!"

Kate Price, a charity admin assistant who was seconded to help with donations at Royal Derby Hospital's Charity Hub, which also distributes donations to London Road Community Hospital, said: “It has been so rewarding to see the generosity from the public and see all of the happy faces as we hand donations out across the hospital areas. It’s very nice to be recognised like this and is a lovely surprise.”

Gavin Boyle added: “The support from the public has been amazing; we’ve received an incredible amount of donations. Getting it all out there and doing it in a way that’s fair and where all teams from across our hospitals can benefit is a really difficult task. It’s really appreciated and I’d like to thank the teams for everything they’ve done.” 

Ward 14 from Queen’s Hospital Burton have been selected as the worthy winners of one of our ‘Team UHDB Awards’ for their hard work and commitment throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The team, led by Senior Sister, Elly Buckley, supported our Intensive Care Team to triple the size of ICU capacity at Burton. The team were very anxious about this change, but with the good support of their colleagues from ICU, they have done an incredible job in helping fight the virus.

Gavin Boyle, Chief Executive, presented the team with their award when he took a surprise visit to the ward on Tuesday..

Sister, Vicky Bradley, said, “Wow, I feel quite emotional receiving this award on behalf of the team. Each and every one of them deserves the recognition – we’ve all worked so hard.”

Gavin Boyle, Chief Executive said: “I continue to be incredibly proud of my colleagues at UHDB and impressed by their ingenuity and creativity in meeting the challenge we face.”

Great work team!             

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.

The vital work that has been going on in our laboratory services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised with a well-deserved award. 

It is fair to say that the last few months have been incredibly challenging for the Derbyshire Pathology team to say the least as they have been tasked with examining thousands of antigen test samples. 

The team has literally worked around the clock to ensure swab test results have been turned around as quickly as possible, to help determine whether patients have Covid-19 or not, so that they can then be placed on the correct treatment pathway for them.  

As well as setting up the process to do swab testing at Royal Derby Hospital and Chesterfield Royal Hospital, the Derbyshire Pathology team have also worked tirelessly to ensure that antibody testing of Trust staff can be done on site within a small time frame. 

With this in mind, Gavin Boyle, Chief Executive, was delighted to this week surprise the team by presenting them with a Team UHDB Making a Difference Award. 

He said: “The role that our laboratory services have played, in response to Covid-19, has been absolutely enormous, both in terms of treating patients and providing antigen testing. Derbyshire Pathology have also now taken on antibody testing as well, which is hugely important in our understanding of the disease. Every member of the team has had to change the work they’re doing as part of our response to Covid, so I would like to thank them all for their flexibility and hard work.”

Dr Gerry Van Schalkwyk, Derbyshire Pathology Clinical Director, added: “This award is down to the fantastic efforts of everyone in this team. They’ve all worked so hard – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s incredible to work with a team like this. Thank you so much, you all do such an amazing job.”   

Our Infection Prevention and Control Teams at the Trust have been selected as the worthy winners of our ‘Team UHDB Award’ for their hard work and commitment throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Team has worked closely with the Trust Board and staff to limit the spread of Coronavirus throughout our hospitals and worked tirelessly on providing staff with the appropriate PPE guidance and support.

Jim Murray, Director of Nursing for Operations said presented the team with one of our June “Team UHDB” Making a Difference Awards.

A member of the team said; “Wow! What a surprise - we’re absolutely delighted to win this award and be recognised for our work.”

Great work team!                     

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.

Laura Waterworth, Midwife at Queen’s Hospital Burton, has been awarded the June “Patient Hero” Making a Difference Award for her compassionate care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Laura was nominated by a patient named Katie, who recently had to give birth in isolation due to being in contact with her dad and sister who had both contracted Coronavirus.

Katie said: “I was extremely scared about giving birth alone, it was far away from the water birth I had planned at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital.

“Laura volunteered to be in isolation with us throughout my labour. She had to wear full PPE as I gave birth which she had to get on and off every time I said I thought I was ready - It was truly an experience I won’t forget.”

After Katie’s baby was born, she was able to Facetime her dad, who was also being cared for on one of our wards at Queen’s Hospital Burton with Covid-19. This Facetime call allowed Katie to introduce her newborn baby to her Dad, despite visiting restrictions that were in place. The call was extra special to Katie as her dad sadly passed away from Covid-19 the following day

Katie said, “The memory of the Facetime call is something that will remain with me forever.”  

When Laura was presented with the award by Duncan Bedford, Executive Managing Director, she was overcome with emotion. Laura said: “I am completely overwhelmed and in shock to be presented with this award. What a lovely surprise.”

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.