THE Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust celebrates its staff 
in annual awards event

On Wednesday 20 July 2016, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Staff Awards took place at Harlow College. This was a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate all the hard work the Trust’s staff does throughout the year.

There was a total of 14 awards, four of them being ‘Living the Values’ awards which were nominated by staff and acknowledges individuals and teams who uphold and champion the Trust’s values which are Responsible, Respectful, Committed and Caring.

Phil Morley, Chief Executive, summarised the event perfectly: “Tonight is an opportunity to say thank you and recognise all the extra things staff do which make people think ‘wow’. These ‘wow’ moments are what have made people nominate their colleagues and this should be valued and continued in years to come. I think you are all winners.”

Overall there were 184 nominations for the staff awards, with nominees ranging from doctors to domestics. This was an amazing testament to the great work all members of staff deliver on a daily basis at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.

During the event winners and nominees were able to hear about the outstanding work carried out by their colleagues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust. For example, Natalie Gray, winner of the Patient Safety award, has been integral to the implementation of the Protected Mealtimes Initiative, which allows patients to eat their meals uninterrupted and staff to focus on helping those unable to eat independently. Natalie was commended getting the initiative implemented “through sheer guts and determination”.

Hospital volunteers also received special recognition. The Trust’s dementia volunteer, Sue Martin, winner of the Volunteer Award, received outstanding praise, her nomination stated: “People with dementia are often very lonely and scared when they are on a busy hospital ward, they need someone to sit with them and show them kindness, luckily we have Sue, and nothing is too much trouble for her. The positive impact she has on patients cannot be over-emphasised.”

Recognition was also given to the next generation of caregivers when Gemma Smith and Amy Titmarsh, Student Nurse Ambassadors, won The Patient Panel Award. Their commitment to their work and the Hospital was not only praised by their colleagues on the Patient Panel but also regionally as their involvement has led to the Essex County Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to recommend that all hospitals should appoint their own Student Nurse Ambassadors.

Professor Nancy Fontaine, Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive said: “The compliments and comments about our staff epitomises what we do. We need to remember these comments when we face some of the challenges thrown at us and feel proud to work together at PAH.”

The winners of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Staff Awards 2016:

Living the Values – Respectful Award
Liz Emmett, Louise Kennedy and Lynda Sunner, Child Death Review Rapid Response Team
Living the Values – Respectful Award 
Victoria Taylor, Medical Records Officer
Living the Values – Responsible Award
Paul Esguerra, Physiotherapist
Living the Values – Caring Award
Pamela Taylor, Acute Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Chief Nurse’s Award for Outstanding Care
Gill Robertson, Specialist Nurse in Palliative Care
Chief Medical Officer’s Award for Clinical Excellence
Alice Dain, Consultant Geriatrician
The Patient Safety Award
Natalie Gray, Henry Moore Ward Manager
Chief Financial Officer’s Award 
Mandy Marendaz, Head of Finance
Chief Operating Officer’s Award for Outstanding Operational Management
Karyn Bann, Service Manager in Medicine

The Volunteer Award 
Sue Martin, Dementia Volunteer

HR Director’s Education Award
Rosemary Phillips, Consultant 

The Patient Panel Award 
Gemma Smith and Amy Titmarsh, Student Nurse Ambassadors

Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Team Contribution
Estelle Patterson and Jenny Harding, Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Team

Chief Executive’s Award for Outstanding Leadership
Janelle Gardner, Neonatal Service Manager