An heroic maintenance assistant with an outstanding work ethic and a senior sister who displays clinical excellence, care and compassion in the most difficult times are the winners of September’s You Made a Difference awards.
Michael Madison joined the Trust in 2016 and is one of a team of 20 fast responders in the estates department. He is responsible for attending emergencies such as floods and power failures, and carrying out minor repairs and routine planned maintenance on mechanical services, electrical systems and the building fabric.
Michael’s work helps ensure the hospital stays compliant with safety standards and procedures and also remains a functional, safe place for patients and staff.
Michael is always striving to achieve very high standards and willing to go the extra mile to ensure the job gets completed.
This is reflected in the winning nomination which told us:
Michael is nominated for his outstanding work ethic, dedication and performance within and outside of the Trust.
“Michael successfully assessed the challenging job of resolving a major sewage blocking issue, successfully completing the task, under confined space permit.
“Michael also showed the right attitude on another occasion, and thanks to him we have an accurate asbestos management survey which is paramount in terms of health and safety. Michael’s assistance also managed to save several thousands of pounds to the Trust.”
I also learned about Michael’s heroic act when he saved an elderly lady and her pets from a house fire. His selfless behaviour and bravery is role model for all of us.
Hannah Devey
Hannah Devey is a senior sister and has worked on the neurosciences critical care unit (NCCU) since February 2013; prior to this she worked in intensive care for two years.
Hannah is always an advocate for the nursing team and works hard to ensure they have a voice and their thoughts, ideas and feelings are represented. She is an expert practitioner at the bed space and also supports and teaches more junior nurses in her shift charge role, always ensuring she is available to help practically at the bedside.
She has recently taken the lead for the healthcare assistant team on NCCU to ensure they are fully represented, help their development and get involved in recruitment.
Hannah always fully demonstrates the Trust values of together, safe, kind and excellent and this is reflected in the winning nomination which told us:
“Hannah is the epitome of clinical excellence and leadership here on NCCU. Her knowledge, skills and care and second to none! She is one of the most approachable, kind and caring nurses I have ever had the pleasure of working alongside, and I'm sure the rest of her colleagues on NCCU will agree.
“She is always on hand for the bedside nurses/health care assistants for support, knowledge and guidance, not only when she is leading a shift but even when she is working a bedside shift herself, with inevitably the sickest patient on the unit at the time to look after. She always makes herself available to her colleagues in need no matter how big or small the task.”
I observed her display of kindness and excellence at its absolute best when she was caring for a patient who was admitted to NCCU in the most traumatic of circumstances. Hannah cared not only for the patient, but their partner who was at the bedside throughout, in order to allow that little bit of extra special time together for them.
Such a display of clinical excellence, care and compassion in the most difficult times is something that comes easy to Hannah and she is the best role model for her junior colleagues. Hannah is without doubt the nurse that I aspire to be in the future.