Team of the Year (joint winners)
RAH CMU Team
Throughout the past 18 months the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) Community Midwifery Unit have worked exceptionally hard to provide excellent care to mums, babies and new families during the pandemic. Adapting to closures of their department and supporting other departments not only within the RAH maternity unit but the other maternity sites across NHSGGC as well. The team acted and adapted quickly to working in unfamiliar areas, to new pathways and processes and making full use of new technology via video/telephone appointments which allow them to keep in contact with their patients and families.
Acute Paediatric Physiotherapy Service
The Acute Paediatric Physiotherapy service within the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) responded with initiative, efficiency and professionalism as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded. They quickly shifted working practice for outpatient services to virtual and telephone using near-me, supported MDT clinics using near-me, liaised with and supported adult colleagues, set up training for all Paediatric staff on proning, manual handling and adult respiratory skills, and ran practical sessions on donning and doffing PPE to other AHP colleagues within RHC.
The team also prepared and delivered online training for colleagues across Scotland and the RHC has been recognised as one of the leading sites in virtual student placements and the benefits of peer supported learning throughout the Physiotherapy profession.
Employee of the Year
Debbie Harrison – Senior Staff Nurse in Paediatric Haematology
Debbie Harrison is in the team looking after children with malignant haematological and oncological diseases and children undergoing the Stem cell transplant process.
As a caring and compassionate nurse who works hard to ensure that children with leukaemia receive the best care possible, Debbie has maintained a positive outlook and supported and encouraged others despite the department going through touch changes and challenges over the last 4-5 years. Debbie has faced challenges from the children’s hospital to the adult hospital, staffing shortages and the added burden of caring for very immune compromised patients through the pandemic with a smile and always has an encouraging word for others.
Claire Rowan – Practice Development Midwife
Claire Rowan is a Practice Development Midwife who created and rolled out an induction programme for Newly Qualified Midwifes (NQMs) that was adapted specifically for COVID restrictions, and managed to deliver the whole programme despite COVID and all of the restrictions and pressures that came along with it. Moving the programme from what was initially face-to-face education in the QEUH Teaching and Learning Centre, to a hybrid of small learning groups and flexible e-learning in 2020 and 2021.
Instead of attending 75 hours of lectures, NQMs now attend 24 hours of interactive education, and complete a comprehensive e-learning list.
Leader of the Year
Jennifer Johansson – Charge Midwife Princess Royal Maternity Unit
Through the COVID pandemic Jennifer Johansson took notice that midwives were experiencing change at a significant pace and facing incredible challenges both within and outwith their working environment, and decided to do something about it. Jennifer commenced a project in October 2020 to enable the senior labour ward staff to facilitate time for staff to concentrate on their wellbeing and wellness at work. The aim was that a minimum of 50% of midwives on shift would receive a 10 minute wellness break in a designated wellness room in the labour ward. The outcome was achieved with well over 50% of staff benefiting from a wellness break and excellent feedback from staff using the facility.
Innovation of the Year
QEUH Ward 48 Antenatal Ward
A new patient centred ‘Outpatient Induction of Labour’ service was introduced during the pandemic, with the aim to reduce hospital admissions, reduce the caesarean section and assisted birth rate and provide women with an innovative safe method of inducing labour and then safely go home to be with their families and return the next day.
This was a very challenging service to set up initially but with head-strong determination and unbelievable team work and motivation the QEUH Ward 48 team are now seeing the results. The process has had a 96% success rate and women are able to transfer to labour wards to have their waters broken without the requirement for an inpatient stay, without requiring drugs and with minimal discomfort.
Volunteer of the Year
Michelle McMillan – Medical Secretary, Renal Department
Michelle was approached at the beginning of the Pandemic with a request to set up a robust admin system to book in Covid vaccine appointments for Medical, Nursing and Clinical Staff members in the Women’s and Children’s (W&Cs) Directorate. Michelle embraced this request, learning the new technology and setting up a Microsoft TEAMs page with an excel file recording all staff bookings. She worked from home outwith her normal working hours, at weekends and late into the evenings to book in staff to the appointments as they became available as well as phoning staff members advising them of their appointments whilst answering any queries they had.
Rights of the Child Award
Morag Wilson and the RHC App Development Team
Paediatric Consultant Dr Morag Wilson along with Coral Brady, Seona Hamilton, Melville Dixon, Graham Bell and Geetika Kumar at the Royal Hospital for Children have worked to develop an app for parents and carers that provides a wealth of information for children’s health.
The app and accompanying webpage not only give advice about how to access care for different situations, but also what to expect when visiting the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) and information on common childhood issues such as earache, fevers and temperatures and coughs and colds.
The app was developed with parents, carers and children in mind, understanding that it can be very stressful when a child is unwell.
Directors Award
Conor Doherty – Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Conor Doherty has been awarded the ‘Directors Award’ in the Women and Children’s Directorate in recognition of his exemplary performance and behaviours, playing a pivotal part in meeting our goals, driving our positive culture and moving the Directorate forward safely through Covid.
Throughout the pandemic Conor has played the lead role in ensuring that the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) is in a strong position to deal with the pandemic whilst maintaining a safe clinical environment for the children, families and staff. Conor has taken on a key leadership role, keeping the whole clinical team informed of the most recent developments in epidemiology and national standards such as with PPE and infection control measures throughout.