Our Stars 2023 - staff magazine

September

A special edition staff magazine dedicated to celebrating the Our Stars 2023 finalists

Our Stars finalists revealed!

Whittling down more than 1,000 nominations to just 33 is no mean feat but that was the challenge facing the Our Stars short-listing panels this year. Seven teams made up of staff, patients, directors and governors had the difficult task of picking this year’s Our Stars finalists. Thank you to everyone who gave up their time to read through the many nominations and come up with the shortlist. We have 33 finalists this year and you can read all about their achievements over the coming pages. The Our Stars winners will be revealed at a glitzy awards ceremony on Friday 24 November at The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe.

Guests will be treated to a drinks reception with live music, a three course meal, the awards ceremony itself and then a chance to kick off those shoes and dance the night away.

The Bright Spark Award

Tickets to the event go on sale on Monday18 September - you can buy them by calling our finance team on 03033 305272 and making a card payment. They are £35 each and if you’re travelling from Grimsby ask about transport too. Lottery members -if you applied to win a pair of tickets then check your email or the Our Stars Hub page to see if you’ve won. In the meantime we’re proud to introduce you to the Our Stars 2023 finalists...

Adult Speech and Language Therapy Team, Grimsby

They have a passion for supporting patients with communication difficulties which never wavers even when the going gets tough. The team identified they had a number of younger men on their caseloads who needed ongoing Speech & Language Therapy following stroke or brain injury and would benefit from group therapy. Despite significant staffing pressures they set up an eight week group-therapy programme involving the patients and their family members. Outcomes showed improvements for all patients. Patient and carer feedback was very positive. It was a joy to be around.

Emma Shaw, Podiatrist

Emma is always pushing to make things better and has patient outcome and prevention of deterioration at the centre of what she does. She has driven forward several quality improvement projects which ensure timely medication and treatment for patients, reducing the need for GP appointments. Her projects have helped prevent deterioration of the patient without hospital admission. Emma is also involved in creating a business case for Podiatric surgery which would mean that foot surgery can be done within Trust, reducing the need for long-term Podiatry intervention and therefore cost and resource but also reducing referrals out of Trust for Podiatric surgery intervention.

Jamie

Jamie is a great role model for us all, showing how you can achieve great things when you put your mind to it and have the courage to take it forward. Jamie developed an interest in improving the rehabilitation of critical care patients and started a Quality Improvement project around early mobilisation getting patients moving as soon as possible. Jamie had her eye on an all singing all dancing chair to get patients out of bed which was comfortable, but it was £16k! She got together a team of 15 staff to run the Grimsby 10k in 2022, raising more than £4,200 towards the new chair...but Jamie didn’t stop there. She really wanted a rehab garden. She led the project, secured charitable funds, involving previous patients families and staff - the garden has been transformed with many a laugh along the way.

Pridgeon, Staff Nurse ITU

Clinical Team of the Year Award

Bladder and Bowel Service

This whirlwind of a team has overhauled the service in the space of a year, improving patient care and communication between community and the hospital. They’ve reduced the waiting time to be seen from 54 weeks to four to six weeks. All patients get a full assessment and a management plan taking into account their biopsychosocial need. They’ve introduced training in care homes to improve continence care, have introduced direct referrals to the urology and ARP team and have reduced the number of avoidable readmissions into hospital through failed catheterisations as all complex catheter care is carried out by the team.

Maternity Services

This team has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure an excellent patient experience throughout their journey. They have delivered personalised, compassionate care as evidenced in the results of the national maternity survey, which consistently demonstrates high patient satisfaction and positive feedback. Their impact extends beyond the walls of our hospitals, as they actively engage with the community to promote maternal health and well-being. They have not only positively impacted the lives of countless women and families but have also set new benchmarks for clinical excellence/innovation.

Collaborative Working Award

Stroke Unit, Grimsby

Despite being under huge pressure they face every day with a smile, and a sense of humour. The care they show end of life patients is second to none. They will do everything to make patients comfortable and feel connected with their loved ones in their final days. One son stayed with his mum and her dog on the wardeveryone worked together to ensure he was supported and cared for like their own. They made arrangements for another patient to get to the remembrance day service; he was so upset he was going to miss it. His face as he was wheeled out of the ward on the day wearing his Sunday best with all his medals adorning his chest was priceless.

Community Integrated Urgent Care

They ensure patients are cared for at home safely achieving the best outcomes for both their physical and mental health. The relationships that have been forged between community and acute have led to some great patient outcomes including reducing ED attendances. They work collaboratively with others to work on patients getting the right care in the right place at the right time without duplication. They support people in their own homes to feel safe and secure in the knowledge that if they did become unwell someone would give them the support they require.

ePMA Team

They implemented a major Trustwide clinical system three months ahead of schedule and on budget, overcoming many adversities along the way. The rollout of ePMA (electronic prescribing and medicines administration) began at Goole in 2019, followed by Scunthorpe in 2020 and Grimsby in 2021. Almost 2 million drugs have been prescribed on the system and over 6 million doses administered. From doctors and nurses to students and dietitians over 6,500 trained staff are actively using the system, and over 1,000 accounts have been issued to agency/locum staff.

Single Point of Access/ WebV/ SDEC

Previously GPs used to spend a large amount of time on the phone trying to contact SDEC to discuss patients who may be suitable for the service. This led to a lot of frustration around wasted time on the phone and missed opportunities to discuss pathways to keep patients within community. Now GPs contact the SPA team who are more accessible, and have a holistic discussion around the patient’s needs. SPA can signpost to relevant community services, or complete an electronic referral to SDEC and the patient directly attends.

Leading Light Award

Jo Williams, Gynaecology, Scunthorpe

Jo is an absolute tower of strength to patients and staff. She is very highly thought of and goes the extra mile for absolutely everyone. Jo goes above and beyond every day, she is the most supportive, caring and kind person. This wonderful lady has got our team not just through Covid-19 but 13 ward moves. She is the reason we as a team are still going strong. She is supportive, understanding and caring to not only her team but to every one of the patients she comes into contact with. She truly is a leading light and one of the loveliest people you could ever meet.

Lucy Almond Bell, Matron, Community & Therapy Services

A leader dedicated to ensuring her staff can provide the best quality of care possible. Lucy’s outlook as a leader is refreshing bringing positivity, compassion and kindness in all that she does. She is an inspirational leader, always wanting to improve services and support staff in their own development. She is always so supportive, bubbly and approachable and this is infectious to others. Definitely the most compassionate leader I have worked with and always adapts to different situations with a positive can do attitude. Lucy leads by example and is always enthusiastic even when times are tough she still remains a positive light for her teams.

Dr Mohammed Alhamas, Respiratory, Scunthorpe

The dedication he has for his job is beyond amazing. Mohammed is always caring and passionate towards our patients and all members of the team. Mohammed is always going above and beyond and nothing is ever too much. He is professional within his role, a very compassionate and good leader. He treats everyone with dignity and respect and always takes the time to explain things and answer any questions or concerns anyone may have. When starting at the trust he was the first to make me feel welcome and as part of the team, till this day he still does that. He took me when I have started under his wing and help me to progress in the NHS.

Health Tree Foundation Charity Champion Award

Kris Weavil, Digital Services

Kris has continued to support The Health Tree Foundation and raised amazing amounts of money for Scunthorpe Hospital. His dedication and support is amazing and he continues to help support the charity yearly with his 24 hour gaming event to raise money for Scunthorpe Hospital. Kris has encouraged staff to take part in his challenge with him for 24 hours and raised £1176.

Melanie

Mel is a great support to the charity on a daily basis and we really appreciate all her advice and support with our ongoing wishes and fundraising. Mel is always a great support to both the HTF team for both wishes and fundraising. Mel always has the patients best interested in mind and always supports the team with making wishes become true. She has been a vital part of making Sparkle Wishes come true with her help and guidance to make it run smoothly.

Sharon Dobson, Child Development Centre, Grimsby

Sharon has been a great ambassador for The Health Tree Foundation. She has tirelessly fundraised for the Children’s Outpatients department at Grimsby, she has encouraged her full team and even her family to get involved with fundraising and continues to do so!

Sharon has encouraged her own son to take part in a Charity Skydive along with asking her full team at CDC to take part in raffles, name cards and other fundraising activities.

Sharp, Deputy Chief Nurse

Non-Clinical Team of the Year Award

Endoscopy Business Admin Teams

They go above and beyond day in, day out to provide an exemplary service to all patients who require their services. The business teams work closely with all clinical colleagues and other divisions to ensure that patient and service needs are met and that waiting times are kept to a minimum - this is reflected in the departmental performance and the recently received feedback from the on-site JAG accreditation details the whole team effort involved delivering such a high quality service.

Estates Capital Project Team

The delivery of two emergency departments, a gamma camera, theatre upgrades, new fire alarms, new fire doors... the list goes on! This team have delivered above and beyond on multiple capital projects throughout the year.

A small team, led by an exceptional senior manager that will overcome all obstacles to deliver their service. The Trust should be very proud of them.

Tobacco Dependency Team

They have worked really hard getting staff to support smokers when they come to the hospital. They implemented the Long Term Plan across all Trust sites 3 months early and now have over 400 patients being supported to quit smoking. 47 pregnant smokers have quit smoking which will save our Trust in excess of £100k in not having to do scans and further consultations. They have implemented hospital innovations that do not exist anywhere else in the UK. The driving force for the team is to become the best hospitals healthy living service in the UK.

Patients’ Choice Award

Clinical Service Redesign

Aldo Alia Casado, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Grimsby

He is everything that’s amazing about the NHS, a true credit to Grimsby Hospital. I was told by Aldo that I have Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at age 29. He made the worst day of my life extremely manageable. His caring energy came through from the start and it felt like I’d known him my whole life. When he took me into the room to tell me I had cancer I could not have wished for a kinder soul to be with me. He was a shoulder to cry on, it was almost like having my family there. He explained everything to me and gave me as much information as he could. When my family arrived he was extremely caring and thoughtful when explaining what has happened and what the steps are going forward.

Charlotte Dolloway, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cardiology, Scunthorpe

Charlotte is the epitome of a professional and an amazing example of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. Charlotte is always professional and caring, making sure my needs are addressed and working to help me achieve the best health I can with managing my condition. She has a caring attitude, with excellent communication skills; she explained everything I needed to know in language that I understood, instead of jargon that went over my head. I felt so at ease talking with Charlotte and I felt she always went above and beyond; nothing was too much trouble with regular phone calls to check on me, all in all a first class nurse.

Matthew Robinson, Senior Physiotherapist, Goole

From the day I arrived I knew Matt was going to help me achieve my best. He recognises the uniqueness of individuals and with that understanding creates the best plan for achievement. Matt showed me a restorative approach to my rehab and physio - lots of challenge and unwavering support. Matt was keen to talk to my family and include them in my rehabilitation - this definitely benefited my progress, My goal was to walk out of the centre on my discharge day and I did! Matt showed great kindness but was always clear that progress would take hard work on my part. He enabled me, he was honest with me, he gave me confidence Matt is a true professional.

Shining Star Award

Anna Chalaczkiewicz, Senior Dietitian, Grimsby

Anna is a true team player who puts her patients at the forefront of all interventions looking at new ways to ensure they receive the best care possible with their oncology journey. Anna works with a multitude of professionals determining that patients are able to maximise their nutritional input to promote their whole health and well-being; providing person centred care trying different strategies, never faltering until the right solution is reached for the patient. Anna has seen many changes which she has adapted to with enthusiasm.

Unsung Hero Award

Chloe Seymour, Senior Healthcare Assistant, Scunthorpe

Chloe is a star when it comes to patient care. She helps everybody even if it is not her patient. She asks all staff if help is needed or not. She is very compassionate to her patients and really a very good team player. She is very kind to everybody and respects other staff members. She knows how to interact with patients and relatives. I have seen her resolving and handling conflicts with remarkable patience. She encourages other HCAs to complete ESR training. She is a role model to other staff and she deserves to be acknowledged.

Nicki Farrow, Nutritional Support Nurse, Scunthorpe

Nicki is an advocate for patient nutrition and an invaluable part of the nutrition and dietetic team. On more than one occasion Nicki has gone out of her way to attend A&E to support the replacement of dislodged PEG tubes, assessing the patient in the back of the ambulance, then securing a side room to support to safe re-insertion of the tube, thus allowing the patient to be returned to their care home without the need for an admission. She ensures wards are giving the best patient care in nutrition to improve outcomes in recovery and reduce malnutrition

Dawn is very organised, empathetic and caring; nothing is too much trouble. I think this goes unnoticed at times and she doesn’t actually realize what an impact she has. Dawn is always there to greet you with a smile and make sure you have everything you need. Dawn often goes above and beyond and will do anything to support anyone, if she can’t she will find someone who can. Dawn is our front of house hero.

Giselle has a passion for developing staff. She focuses on developing our unregistered staff through various initiatives, enabling them to become advanced in their role, but also to develop into nursing associates/ nurses or wherever their passion may be. She has introduced a buddy scheme developing existing HCAs to become leaders within their ward environment. This has been groundbreaking for the organisation. Giselle has also inspired many nurses to follow their dreams and pursue further education, by building their confidence and guiding them down the right path.

Jill is the cog that holds Colorectal service together. She is unassuming, a great support to everyone, and even in difficult situations her kindness, professionalism and willingness to help,ensure a gold standard of service. Jill has tremendous commitment to and knowledge of the 1,200 patients who are under her radar on a monthly basis. Her compassionate and caring nature is outstanding. She deals with queries promptly efficiently, effectively, with professionalism and her and empathetic mannerism is ever evident.

Dawn Stevenson, Admin Clerical Support, Community Services

Giselle Kesson, Clinical Skills Tutor, Grimsby

Jill Doyle, Cancer Care Coordinator, Grimsby

Volunteer of the Year Award

Eileen Cook, Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic, Grimsby

Eileen has been volunteering in our department for over 20 years and has recently celebrated her 80th birthday! She’s an absolute star and deserves to be recognised. She regularly brings us samples of her beautiful baking and helps us as a department enormously. She is a fabulous asset going above and beyond, with making cups of tea, taking patients to and from the X-ray department, making sure when patients arrive for their appointments that the hospital notes are taken through to the clinician.

Carole Appleyard and Shaun Firth, Goole gardeners

One of these is a retired nurse and the other semi-retired. After giving their working lives to the NHS, they are still invested enough to give up their free time to maintain the hospital they love. Shaun and Carole are THE hospital gardeners. They are the driving force behind the upkeep of all the courtyard gardens in the hospital. They clear the weeds, sweep the leaves and plant and nurture the new plants. They take a real pride and enjoyment in making the outside space here pleasant and accessible for staff and patients alike.

Worth their Weight in Gold Award

Kev Allen, Scunthorpe

Kevin is not only a volunteer guide at Scunthorpe Hospital, but also a public governor who is passionate about ensuring that the correct processes are in place to ensure our patients receive the best care they can. Whether that be assisting them to locate a ward/ department within the hospital or heavily supporting the 15 Steps Programme. Kevin is reliable and trustworthy and can carry out anything - if you call on Kevin, he will be there. He is an exceptional volunteer and public gives a lot of his free time up to support our hospital. Every hospital needs a Kevin.

Garry Treacher, Theatres, Grimsby

Very few people give as much, show such dedication and take as much pride in their work as he does. Garry is integral to the smooth running of not only his own department but a number of others, ensuring sterilised kit is available. He is a stalwart of the Trust, an absolute gem and goes above and beyond every day. He is well respected and hugely valued throughout the entire hospital. For those who don’t know Garry he is the ‘help anyone’ guy at anytime guy, running around the site in his blues, known for his politeness and enthusiasm. Absolutely a Golden Legend who will be missed by many when he eventually places his scrubs into the last linen skip.

Her positive and wonderful attitude is infectious and she makes people want to be their best. Gazala is not only a wonderful doctor but a fabulous valued member of our team who is extremely competent, knowledgeable and thorough, with an excellent attitude and wonderful patient manner. She is a huge support to all staff, takes time to know everyone in the team and treats all staff and patients with respect. She is always happy and bubbly with a lovely smile ready for her day, ready to help at any stage of the day and often stays late to ensure ongoing care for her patients. Gazala is an individual I feel proud to work with.

Kind, caring, friendly and knowledgeable. James goes out his way to help everybody. Nothing is too much for him, he’s always got a smile for everyone. He’s the epitome of the trust values. His skills, knowledge and patience have allowed our team to develop and flourish. Without James we wouldn’t be able to develop our skills and competencies which allow us to give the best care to our patients, his support is endless. He has guided and supported the junior staff so to make them feel welcomed, supported and educated. He always goes above and beyond and always tries to help.

Gazala Layas, Speciality Doctor, Grimsby

James Chapman, Clinical Educator, Emergency Department, Grimsby