Cwm Taf University Health Board’s Staff Recognition Event 2016
NHS staff commended for their dedication and commitment to patient care
Cwm Taf University Health Board’s annual staff recognition awards ceremony was held on May 10th in The Conference Centre at Nantgarw. Over 150 staff attended the ceremony which recognised outstanding care and innovative practice within the health board.
The award categories included improving the patient experience, long service and patient choice. This year, there were three new award categories – Welsh Language award, Volunteer and Quality Improvement.
The winners of the awards are listed below:
Quality Improvement
Winner: Matthew Smith – clinical audit facilitator
Matthew was recognised for his commitment to coordinating mortality reviews which has identified areas for major improvements in services for patients such as anticoagulation.
Improving the Patient Experience
Winner : Dr Iyad Al-Muzaffar – consultant neonatologist
Dr Al Muzaffar was recognised for his development of the BABI (Bonding after Birth Initiative) at both of the health board’s neonatal units in Prince Charles and the Royal Glamorgan Hospitals.
The project offers face time sessions for mothers, who are in the postnatal phase, by using iPads to link with their babies on the neonatal unit.
Welsh Language Award
Winner: Stephen Segan – receptionist
Stephen’s use of the Welsh language has earned him recognition in this category.
Stephen has embraced the language in his receptionist role. He greets everyone bilingually and, despite the fact that he is not a native speaker he holds conversations with Welsh speakers as he has an armoury of Welsh phrases and sentences and frequently asks for lessons to enable him to hone his skills. He makes Welsh speakers feel welcomed and he is an example for all staff to emulate.
Supportive Colleague
Winner: Myfanwy Ellis – senior midwife/risk
Myfanwy’s dedication, support and diligence to maternity services was recognised. In her role as senior midwife for risk management she plays a crucial role in ensuring the provision of a safe and high quality service to women and their families.
Myfanwy is extremely supportive to all midwives and medical staff, encouraging, coaching and nurturing both junior and senior staff during times that can be challenging.
Long Service Awards – 40+ years
Garry Bater
Project Manager – Prince Charles Hospital.
Kelvin Woodliffe
Porter – Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Lyn Thomas
Personal assistant to the Heads of Therapies.
Sharon Roberts
Cook – Prince Charles Hospital.
Paul Williams
Senior capital projects officer – Dewi Sant hospital.
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Wendy Owens
Senior staff nurse – Coronary Care Unit.
Richard Jenkins
Painter and decorator – Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Christine Elley
Health Visitor – Pontypridd.
Jennifer Levy
Community midwife – Pontypridd area.
Susan Evans
Staff Nurse – Occupational Health.
Angela Giovannone-Roberts
Staff Nurse – outpatient department – Ysybyty Cwm Rhondda.
Kay Bianchi
Deputy Ward Manager – Ysbyty Cwm Cynon.
David Morse
Porter – Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Dawn Lee
Deputy Manager – diabetes department – Prince Charles Hospital.
Sue Zobole
Community Services Manager for Rhondda/Taff – Heol Draw
Linda Dickson
A & E receptionist and ward clerk on the Special Care Baby Unit – Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Kathleen Rees
Ward clerk – Ward 3 – Prince Charles Hospital.
Ann George
Assistant Medical Secretary – Prince Charles Hospital.
Mair Matthews
Sister Midwifery – Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Health and Wellbeing at Work
Winner: Lynne James – sister, ward 3 – Ysbyty Cwm Cynon
Lynne was recognised for her passion and enthusiasm in the delivery of a Poetry book. The book captures experiences, feelings and emotions that staff face on a daily basis.
The Poetry book has been an enabler for staff and patients to discuss their experiences; of being a patient in hospital, coming to terms with illness and is a celebration of nursing care and compassion.
Sustainability and Improvement
Winner: John Bibby – biomedical scientist
John received the award for working tirelessly to improve services in the pathology laboratory which has improved quality, work flow and reduced costs in this rapidly expanding service.
Patient Choice
Winner: Dr Ceril Rhys Dillon and the Rheumatology Nursing and Occupational Therapy Team
Dr Ceril Rhys-Dillon and the team were nominated by a patient for this award.
The patient said: “Since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the care and support I have received from the rheumatology team has been exceptional.
“It is the first time I have not felt like I am on a conveyor belt when receiving care from the NHS and it is a wonderful and supportive atmosphere.
“They listen to every question and query regarding your treatment and take these on board when making decisions about what course of action to take.”
Leadership
Winner: Rebecca James – ward manager – Ty Llidiard
Rebecca was recognised for her services to CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services).
Rebecca has raised the standards of care and professionalism by producing teaching programmes for staff, developing audits and writing therapeutic handovers for parents prior to leaving the ward.
Rebecca has improved patient flow, communication and working relationships with partner agencies.
Team of the Year
Winner: Ward Teams – Ysbyty Cwm Cynon
The wards at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon were recognised for their dedication and enthusiasm when making improvements to benefit patient care.
Some of the improvements include – the introduction of a dementia club, Star of the Month awards, poetry book and focus on pressure ulcer management.
CWM TAF ‘Stars’
Tracey Mordecai – catering domestic
Tracey was recognised for the care she provides to patients regarding their nutritional requirements. She gives so much time to each and every individual patient and will go above and beyond to make sure they are eating & drinking well. She makes all patients feel very special.
Tarek Allouni – directorate support manager
Tarek was recognised for working tirelessly to ensure the functioning of one of the departments within the health board. He does this with good humour and efficiency.
Sian Rees- ward manager
Sian was recognised for her efforts in transforming her ward environment, leading changes in good practice, motivating and inspiring staff.
Susan Williams – ward manager
Susan’s passion and inspiration were recognised for improving the care of dementia patients with ‘Twiddle Muffs’.
Susan took the idea to heart and went above and beyond her job requirements to inspire her colleagues and members of the local population to make ‘Twiddle Muffs’. This has shown how staff with a passion can engage and inspire a wider audience and allow them to feel they can make a real difference to the patient experience.
Sian Yearsley – medical laboratory assistant
Sian was recognised for her hard work and cheery attitude towards staff. She makes everyone feels special and cared for and is a ‘breath of fresh air’.
Gerrard Fletcher – medical laboratory assistant
Gerrard was recognised for being a fantastic role model to his team in the laboratory and for providing excellent training to junior members of staff.
Sarah Lawrence – concerns and claims coordinator
Sarah was recognised for her professional, courteous, polite and supportive manner when communicating with staff at all levels and members of the public.
Tracey Bechares – equipment coordinator
Tracey’s determination was recognised for her work to improve the bed service at the health board to improve patient care. This work has also resulted in a reduction in costs.
Peter Mobberley and the Central Sterile Stores Department (CSSD)
Peter and the team were recognised for their overwhelming support in providing old and decommissioned instruments to Nepal following a devastating earthquake.
This equipment will be put to good use in four different hospitals in Nepal.
Partnership
Winner: Patient Experience Manager (Kathryn Doughton) and Patient Advice Liaison Service Officer (Cheryl Noras)
The Patient Experience Team was recognised for raising awareness of the needs of our Armed Forces community.
The Patient Experience Manager has developed a “Healthcare Provision for the Armed Forces” three year action plan and established a health board Armed Forces Forum (AFF) which brings together key stakeholders to help improve our services for Veterans and their families.
The PALS officer has been instrumental in building relationships with the AFF Community enabling a better understanding of the difficulties they encountered when accessing our services.
As a consequence the following changes have been implemented:
- Introduction of “Quiet Rooms” in each Outpatients Area for Veterans who suffer from PTSD, to access whilst waiting their consultation
- Developing Veterans Stories which will be used organisational wide to raise awareness of the needs of Veterans and their families.
- Looking at process to bring Veterans into the UHB for work experience and volunteering as a mechanism of supporting them back into the working environment.
Developing and implementing a “Veterans Identification Card” which will streamline the process for Veterans booking in at Outpatients – a robust application process is also being developed
Volunteer Award
Winner: Chaplaincy Volunteers
The volunteers were recognised for their services to dementia patients. They bring life and laughter to this group of patients by arranging a sing-a-long and leading a service. Some of the volunteers having been faithfully visiting patients for many years and the service they provide is invaluable.
Winner: Maternity Volunteers and Breastfeeding Support Volunteers
The maternity volunteers were recognised for enhancing services provided to new mums and their families. They undertake a range of services which include – nursing the baby while mum eats her meal, greeting and directing relatives to mother or midwifery staff and passing or collecting personal items for the mother if she is unable to reach them for herself.
The breast feeding peer supporters were recognised for being positive role models who encourage and support local mums with breast feeding as well as providing details of breastfeeding counsellors
The breast feeding peer supporters were recognised for being positive role models who encourage and support local mums with breast feeding as well as providing details of breastfeeding counsellors
The Roger Pugh Memorial Awar
Winner: The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Health Check Team
This team were recognised for their motivation in embracing their role of delivering a cardio-vascular risk assessment programme across Cwm Taf, including the identification of people at risk of developing CVD and testing for contributing factors of heart disease.
Chairman’s Award
Winners: Paul Davies – assistant director of operations and James McMahon – assistant head of planning
The recipients of this award were recognised for their services to mental health.
Dr Jones, chairman said: “The winners are both real innovators and deliverers – they’ve both found ways of doing different things and then implementing them differently – always with the patient at the very centre of their thinking.”
Source: Cwm Taf University Health Board