National award for emergency department team
The emergency department (ED) nursing team at the William Harvey Hospital have been named Team of the Year in the Nursing Times Awards.
The team impressed judges with their work on recruitment, and patient safety and experience, and were praised for transforming the service.
Team members travelled to London for the awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, where they were named as one of 25 category winners.
Judges highlighted their work on addressing key challenges to create a supportive environment amid significant changes, including the physical remodelling of the department.
They added: “The team has a strong commitment to democratic leadership, enabling staff to lead and look after their welfare.
“It is also a great example of how to maximise the potential of internationally recruited nurses, blending them with local recruits to create an excellent, mutually supportive team.”
The team worked alongside Canterbury Christ Church University to develop an accredited emergency department nursing module, and implemented a site-specific ED care plan that was tailored to the needs of their patients.
They also created a patient family liaison role to improve patient care and communication.
Ben Hearnden, associate director of nursing for urgent, emergency and acute medicine at the William Harvey Hospital, said: “It was absolutely fantastic for the team to receive this recognition at a national level for the incredible amount of hard work they have done to improve patient and staff experience in the department.
“There is still more we want to do but it is clear that the team’s efforts are already paying off and we are all delighted to be named Team of the Year.”
Sarah Hayes, East Kent Hospital’s chief nursing and midwifery officer, said she was incredibly proud.
She added: “Our emergency departments are under huge amounts of pressure but the staff are absolutely determined to provide the best possible care to our patients while facing the toughest challenges.
“Their care and support for each other is also outstanding and I am so proud that the work of our East Kent nurses has been recognised with this award, it is incredibly well deserved.”
Steve Ford, editor of Nursing Times, said: “The Nursing Times Awards are an opportunity each year to celebrate all that is brilliant about nursing and midwifery, showcasing the innovation, energy and dedication of nurses and midwives across the UK.
“Once again, the quantity and standard of entries has been extremely high and to be shortlisted, let alone win a category, is a great achievement that marks out individuals and teams as truly exceptional in their area of work.”
Michael Mark Dalauidao, infection prevention and control site lead for the William Harvey Hospital, was shortlisted in the Patient Safety Improvement category for his work in his previous role at King’s College Hospital.
And Lovelyn Ndubuisi-Okoroezi, who worked as a clinical nurse educator for the Trust but is now head of clinical education in Lincolnshire, was shortlisted in the Rising Star category.
Karen Brewer and Jacqueline Burlace, from East Kent Hospitals’ workforce development, education and training team, are finalists in the Nursing Times Workforce Awards for their T level in health and social care industry placement initiative. The winners will be announced next month.