Gemma Hughes, Hayley Read, Julia Johnson, Kirsty Horton, Sandra Farrell, and Sarah Hopkins were presented with certificates and pin badges by NHS England’s Regional Deputy Chief Midwife Angie Velinor on Wednesday 11 September. The hospital’s Director of Midwifery Ali Herron and Interim Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Vaux were also present to congratulate the winners.
Laxmi Pokharal and Tracey Hargreaves, who were unable to make the event, were presented with their certificate and pin badge by the hospital’s Interim Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Vaux on Thursday 26 September.
The awards aim to reward and recognise the vital contribution made by HCSWs in England to nursing and midwifery practice. Only a few are awarded each year. Staff were selected from nominations submitted by their colleagues and managers.
Her dedication to the wellbeing of women and their families is unwavering.
She actively encourages and welcomes feedback from women, families and staff. She understands that feedback is a valuable tool for continuous improvement and actively uses it to enhance the care provided on our maternity ward.
One remarkable aspect of Gemma’s commitment to quality care is her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. She selflessly offers to come in during her personal time to support her colleagues in providing a safe and clean ward area.
She goes above and beyond to ensure that mothers receive the best evidence-based information to help them make informed decisions. Her commitment to guiding and supporting women and their families during this crucial period of their lives is both heart-warming and invaluable.
She is known for her kind and supportive nature, which fosters a sense of unity and camaraderie among her co-workers. Her colleagues hold her in high regard, recognising her exceptional ability to provide compassionate care and her unwavering commitment to delivering the best care together as a team.
Julia’s teamwork is truly commendable. She understands that working together, can achieve better results for our women. She actively fosters an environment of mutual support and cooperation, ensuring that every team member feels valued and appreciated. This sense of unity contributes to a positive working environment and benefits our service users.
Julia is an exceptional communicator who actively engages with women and their families. She takes the time to listen to their concerns, answer their questions, and provide emotional support when needed. Julia’s warm and empathetic approach helps create a sense of trust and comfort for service users during their maternity journey.
Her tireless dedication to putting patients first in everything she does creates a ripple effect of positive change.
She understands that healthcare extends beyond clinical tasks and embraces the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of care. She consistently communicates with her colleagues and actively shares ideas on enhancing the service we provide and strengthening the future workforce.
Kirsty’s presence in the delivery suite is a source of inspiration to her colleagues and significantly contributes to improving the lives of the women and families we serve.
Her positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile foster a sense of unity and cooperation within the team, ultimately improving the lives of both patients and staff.
Her ability to embrace diversity and differences ensures that everyone, regardless of their background, feels not just included but truly valued and treated fairly.
Sandra’s kindness shines through in her interactions, creating a safe and welcoming environment where women and families are treated with the utmost respect. She treats her co-workers with the same level of respect, empathy, and consideration that she extends to women and their families. Sandra’s approachability and willingness to offer support and guidance create a positive and collaborative work environment.
Sarah’s work in the Transitional Care Ward is nothing short of inspiring. This ward can be emotionally challenging, as it involves prolonged hospital stays for new mothers and their newborns. However, Sarah’s compassion shines brightly during these difficult times, offering solace and support to both patients and their families.
Her ability to connect with patients on a personal level and offer reassurance and comfort makes her an invaluable member of the healthcare team. Her colleagues look up to her as a role model for her exceptional ability to provide compassionate care and her commitment to delivering the best care together as a team.
Laxmi’s kindness and compassion create a welcoming and supportive environment for patients where they feel valued and heard.
Her commitment to teamwork fosters a sense of unity and cooperation, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. Moreover, Laxmi’s kind and compassionate nature is evident in every interaction she has with patients and their families. She takes the time to provide emotional support and guidance as they navigate the transition into parenthood. Her ability to connect with patients on a personal level creates a safe and nurturing environment, where patients feel both cared for and respected.
Tracey’s commitment to providing the best possible care is truly commendable. She approaches each day with a persistent dedication to patient well-being, ensuring that the needs of our women and their families are met with the utmost priority.
One outstanding example of Tracey’s commitment to patient safety and effective care is her recent identification of a deteriorating baby. Her swift action in escalating the situation immediately to the midwife played a pivotal role in ensuring a positive outcome.
As part of the awards, each recipient is encouraged to become a healthcare support worker Ambassador, a role that involves taking every opportunity to raise the profile of healthcare support workers, both in the public arena and within the workplace.
Sarah Vaux, Interim Chief Nursing Officer for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the Gillingham-based hospital, said: “These awards recognise and celebrate healthcare support workers who go above and beyond their everyday roles to provide excellent care to patients and support their colleagues.
“I am thrilled to see that the work of Gemma, Hayley, Julia, Kirsty, Sandra, Sarah, Laxmi and Tracey has been recognised at a national level. Congratulations to all of them and on behalf of the Trust thank you for all that you do for our patients.”
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