September's You Made a Difference team award goes to the D7 ward team.
Ward D7 is a 31-bedded ward specialising in diabetes and endocrinology. The Team is committed to the prevention, diagnosis and management of all aspects of diabetes and endocrine disorders and diseases.
The ward team works closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team, and each team member has an important role and input into each patient’s care.
The ward has looked after a number of challenging patients over the years and tries to treat these individuals with the utmost care and efficiency. One particular gentleman kept the team on its toes. The constant security presence helped manage the gentleman, due to his unpredictable nature, so the team would like to extend their thanks to security too.
The winning nomination said of the team:
"I would like to officially record my thanks and admiration for the kindness, professionalism and resilience shown by all of the staff working on ward D7 during the recent admission of one of our patients with a rare disease exhibiting challenging physical and psychiatric features.
This was a particularly difficult inpatient stay to manage and without exception the team were fantastic; they were patient and understanding with the behavioural difficulties, they were innovative and creative in employing distraction techniques and preventing boredom from exacerbating the situation, they advocated clearly for him when he was unable to do this safely for himself and they showed genuine concern and compassion for both his immediate and longer term health.
"This tolerant, caring and creative attitude was evident in all grades of staff and included other visiting healthcare professionals. The ward team were always helpful and supportive and I know from discussions with the family that they were very grateful for the quality of care provided in such difficult circumstances.
"It was clear in the way the patient responded to the staff that he felt safe and well cared for, and seemed happy to be looked after on the ward."
I have been a nurse myself in the health service for many years and it is not often that I have seen such genuinely good care provided consistently across the healthcare disciplines and from all grades of staff in such challenging circumstances.
The D7 manager, Kate Martin, added:
It is so nice to be recognised for the work we provide and we are grateful for this as it has certainly boosted morale. Every member of staff gives 100% at work and I am proud to be their manager.