Awards recognise Trust’s incredible healthcare support workers
A newborn hearing screener who has raised thousands for good causes was among the winners at East Kent Hospitals’ first awards ceremony dedicated to healthcare support workers.
Ruth McSweeney, who works at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, was announced as the winner of the Contribution to Charity category at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge on Tuesday.
She was nominated for her fundraising for the Roy Castle lung cancer charity and The Brain Tumour Charity, as well as for volunteering in her own time at a local homeless charity, where she helps make sure people have access to cleaning facilities, clothing and food. Ruth also spends time chatting to the service users over a cup of tea.
A total of 30 finalists were selected from almost 140 nominations for the HealthCare Support Worker Awards in categories recognising everything from their teamwork and professional standards to their kindness and care.
Tammie Glover, who works on Marlowe Ward at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, won the ‘Go-to Person’ category. She was nominated for always giving 100 per cent to her patients, making them laugh and giving them positive thoughts. Her nominator added: “She shares her knowledge with all the team and can be relied upon to help at all times.”
Stewart Thornton, a healthcare support worker on Cambridge M2 at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, was named as the winner of the Exceptional Care category after going above and beyond to help a patient who was anxious ahead of a procedure.
His nominator wrote: “Stewart spoke at length to the patient. Not only did he persuade the patient to have the procedure, he went with the patient and stayed with him throughout the procedure. The patient was extremely grateful.”
Desmond Miller, who works on AMUC at the QEQM, won the Kindness and Compassion category, after being described as having the biggest heart. His team added: “There’s nothing that Desmond wouldn’t do to help a patient. He will always make sure the patients are made to feel valued. Everyone knows how great he is and we are very lucky and proud to have him as our healthcare support worker.”
The evening was compered by the Trust’s deputy chief nurse Julie Yanni, and the first awards were presented by chief executive Tracey Fletcher, who said she was delighted to be part of the event.
She said: “It really struck me that everyone has been nominated by a colleague. That is a mark of respect and thanks and appreciation.
“We all have a role to play in us delivering care to our patients but you as healthcare support workers are so important in making sure the experience you give our women, patients, and families is something they will remember for all the right reasons.
“You are absolutely instrumental in delivering that. You are leading lights in doing that, so thank you.”
The awards were organised by deputy head of nursing Sarah Goodden from the workforce development, education and training team, and she said everyone nominated should consider themselves a winner.
She said: “You are all winners. You are representing all our healthcare support workers across the Trust and making them feel they are also included.
“I believe our healthcare support workers in the Trust are simply the best.”
Prizes were also presented by Andrea Ashman, chief people officer; Claire Casarotto, head of education and workforce for therapies; Parveen Kumi, head of equality, diversity, and inclusion; and Katie Milner, associate director of nursing, professional workforce and CPD.
The winners were:
Team worker
Emily Best
Highly commended: Sharmini Brown and Cherry Cook
HCSW of the year
Bobbie Buddle
Highly commended: Kerry Tolley and Jody Philpott
Personal contribution
Anna Fisher
Highly commended: Emma Coleman and Kelly Kearon
Contribution to charity
Ruth McSweeney
Highly commended: Lesley Henderson and Liza Allman
Professional standards
Sarasamma Wilson
Highly commended: Martin Easdown and Alison Potter
The Go-to person
Tammie Glover
Highly commended: Mahesh Thapa and Michaela Hook
Kindness and compassion
Desmond Miller
Highly commended: Chrissie Jones and Chloe Howe
Supporting a positive culture
Lisa Aldridge
Highly commended: Debbie Wilson and Stephanie Jordan
Supporting the education of others
Emma Shilling
Highly commended: Nigel Hagan and Anita Britton
Exceptional care
Stewart Thornton
Highly commended: Lisa Fieldsend and Emma Butler