A hard-working ward manager devoted to care of the elderly, and a compassionate staff nurse who is highly thought of by colleagues and patients, are the winners of November’s You Made a Difference awards.
Pinelopi is a well-respected member of the Teenage Cancer Trust ward and is thought of very highly by her colleagues and her patients. Those that know her would agree she is kind, caring, dedicated and strives to ensure her patients receive the best care possible.
Working with young people with cancer is in many ways challenging and difficult at times. However, Pinelopi is able to support patients and their families with grace, compassion and always with a smile.
Lauren Greenhill, senior sister on ward C9, commented:
“It has been a pleasure watching her grow and develop over the past few year as she continues to inspire others to be the best we can. It is a pleasure to work with her.”
Extracts from Pinelopi’s nomination from a patient said:
“When my hair first started falling out I was so devastated. It became very matted and it was time for me to shave it but I wasn't ready. I had a shower and my hair was knotted and hanging on to my scalp by a literal thread.
“Pinelopi walked in on me crying because I couldn't get the brush through my hair without clumps coming out. Pinelopi spent a good amount of time with me in effort to get the hair out of knots, she had to cut some of it but saved what she could and braided what she had managed to save.”
She consoled me and calmed me down; everything felt a little bit lighter. This is a moment that I will probably remember for the rest of my life, something that I think about often and means a lot to me.
“Pinelopi was there for me in a time where no one else could have been because it was such an individual moment. I know that her job is to look after us, but I think that she goes above and beyond every time whilst always maintaining her professionalism."
She has been a light throughout my treatment, and I look forward to her shifts when I'm here.
“Being looked after by Pinelopi is a pleasure and makes the bad times better. I will be glad when I don’t have to come to the ward anymore, but it will be a bittersweet moment because I won’t get to see the people who have helped me through what will probably be the worst time of my life. I will especially miss Pinelopi.”
She is a star and has really made a difference.
Clare has been the senior sister on ward G4 since October 2020, prior to that working on C4 and C6. Clare’s entire career has been devoted to care of the elderly.
Clare can trace her career through elderly medicine back to the tender age of 13 when she worked in a care home making cups of tea for the residents. She started her training with the specific intention of working with the elderly and she remains a passionate advocate for them to this day.
Clare is currently undertaking an MSc which has fed directly into improving the care she and her team provide for the patients on G4.
Extracts from Clare’s nomination from a colleague said:
Many people are affected by pressure ulcers each year, across all care settings, including patients in their own homes, with the most vulnerable of patients aged over 75.
Clare has worked incredibly hard to prevent and reduce pressure ulcers on her ward.
“Clare has written some commonly used text sections in our electronic patient record system, one for admission compliance and one for tissue viability. These are both helping to not only increase compliance of documentation, but also reducing the patients' risk.
“She has also changed the culture of the ward, ensuring this is not a paper exercise. It is about assessing the patient and keeping them at the centre of all we do. Her development of a poster above the bed stating ‘please keep me safe’ gives out the message from the patients and enables staff to recognise all at risk patients.
“Clare also discusses risks and compliance in our staff huddles, and she has halved her hospital acquired pressure ulcer rate from two a month to one since August."
Clare provides teaching in the clinical area for all staff and new starters, and she intends to enable other areas of the Trust to use these important resources and spreading good practice by attending the key briefings and meetings across the Trust.