RJAH Stars 2020
2020 was a year like no other for healthcare staff across the NHS – and that has certainly been no different at RJAH.
Usually, staff and volunteers at RJAH would be celebrating at the annual Celebration of Achievement Awards, however the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic meant that this event could not go ahead.
Instead, the RJAH Stars 2020 was created – an awards event with a difference with new and creative ways to celebrate staff.
A total of eight awards were presented to individuals and teams across the hospital highlighting their hard work throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
And the winners are:
Team winners
- Board of Directors Award - Information Department
As a team, the Information Department took over ownership of the Trust’s covid inbox and associated mandatory reporting, managing up to 10 or 12 returns a day at one point. They adopted a seven-day-a-week rota to manage the workload. Among their many crucial successes was their assistance with data quality advice/provision to ensure the trauma work was correctly logged on our systems. They have worked extremely hard and played a crucial role in helping the Trust to continue to deliver outstanding patient care.
- Outstanding Team Award (Clinical - Theatres
Theatres were nominated for showing true professionalism and dedication to the department. All members of staff went above and beyond of what was asked of them, whether that was being temporarily redeployed, or picking up additional roles and the introduction of the trauma service to the department which came new operational techniques, systems and processes. The whole team have been hailed for working extremely hard to continue to deliver outstanding patient care.
- Outstanding Team Award (Non-Clinical) - Digital Services
Digital Services were nominated for their hard work throughout the coronavirus pandemic and the support they have given to staff, both working from home and onsite, with the roll out of a number of new programmes including Microsoft Teams and Attend Anywhere as well as many of the Trust devices being replaced to support Windows 10. The whole team have been hailed for being professional and supportive throughout.
- Power of Partnership Award - Attend Anywhere Project Team
The project team were nominated for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the rapid roll out the Attend Anywhere platform to several pilot areas across the Trust so that clinicians could continue supporting patients during a really challenging time. This piece of work is still ongoing and will continue to better support patients, connecting them to the right people remotely, saving them travelling, keeping them safe in these uncertain times but still delivering outstanding patient care.
Individual winners
- Above and Beyond Award - Sharon Long, Senior Operating Department Practitioner
Sharon was nominated by your colleagues for going above and beyond to support and lead the Theatres team through the coronavirus pandemic when elective surgery was halted and the Trust took on the trauma service. She was hailed for her extensive knowledge, caring nature and fantastic leadership throughout this time, and her colleagues described her as a “true hero”.
- Outstanding Leadership Award - Heather Owen, Powys Ward Manager
Heather was nominated showing outstanding leadership skills through an uncertain time. She led the Powys Ward team through the transition to trauma care all while being new the Ward Manager role herself. She has been described as a “committed and compassionate nurse” who cares deeply about her team of staff and patients.
- Patient Choice Award - Leah Meredith, Healthcare Assistant on Baschurch Day Unit
Leah was nominated by Gaynor Jones, on behalf of her daughter Francesca Jackson, who said: "Francesca has visited the hospital frequently since she was a teenager. She is now 24 and Leah has always been so brilliant – she welcomes and reassures her warmly, always remembers her favourite biscuits and sandwich for her recovery and is an absolutely lovely lady. Leah has watched Francesca grow up and her nerves are always calmed by Leah, meaning her visits to hospital are much more bearable. Thank you Leah.”
- Unsung Star Award - Mr David Ford, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mr Ford was nominated for his commitment throughout the covid pandemic, especially for his work when the Trust took on the trauma service for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. The way he led the trauma surgeons to ensure the process ran smoothly during the reconfiguration of services was described as exceptional. He was also given the option to shield during this time, but instead decided to work every single day to ensure that local communities received outstanding care.