More of our ESTEEM nominations

Published –

Here’s our second set of ESTEEM nominations. You can find out more about each one on the ESTEEM gallery of our Advancing Healthcare Awards website

First off this week, four brilliant COVID-19 initiatives to deliver radiology services.

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust Advanced and Consultant AHP Plain Film Reporting Team has been nominated by Richard Evans, CEO, Society of Radiographers. With the onus on efficient reporting of chest x-rays in COVID-19 cases, some trusts have delegated all chest reporting to radiologists. At Rotherham the consultant radiographers worked closely with the clinical lead radiologist to standardise report format and provide a clear summary of the findings in relation to COVID-19.

Outstanding team work in NHS Fife where the radiology team have realigned to meet 24/7 demand for mobile X-rays, urgent CT/MRI/US scanning and interventional radiology procedures.  Sonographers have continued to provide ante natal scanning and urgent general US examinations, while nuclear medicine and breast imaging continue to provide urgent and essential services.

Mike Beach, radiology services manager, nominates the radiology team in NHS Orkney. He explains: ‘The radiographic team here is very small and vulnerable to acquiring COVID-19 which would seriously effect services on the island. We invited 3 agency staff who had worked for us before to join us to form two teams of 4 working 3 days on and 3 days off across 7 days with 24/7 on-call. Everyone rose to this challenge and I applaud my team for making this change happen quickly. ‘

Belinda Gorell, a clinical scientist, Velindre University NHS Trust specialising in diagnostic radiology and radiation protection has played a pivotal part in delivering safe and effective radiology services at the temporary Dragon’s Heart hospital in Cardiff. For example, she had a leading role in commissioning new unfamiliar mobile X-ray equipment to bring it into clinical use quickly and safely. This is a huge achievement in such a short space of time.

The whole rehab team led by occupational therapist Naomi Brown at the newly opened Leonard Cheshire alcohol related brain injury unit in Northern Ireland had to get creative when lockdown came. Their socially distanced activities include PPE pamper sessions, outdoor tai chi and physio sessions, Skype quizzes and bingo and temporary dining room where people can eat together safely.

COVID ‘super-hero’ Nerys Williams, clinical lead for dysphagia and videofluoroscopy at Cardiff & Vale, trained children’s speech and language therapists to support the nutrition and communication needs of patients with COVID-19 in Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig. Her calm encouragement and reassurance has allayed the anxieties of staff who are not used to working in hospital settings.

On behalf of the paediatric speech and language therapy team at Midlands Partnership, Janet Cooper, clinical lead, explains that Stoke Opportunity Area commissioned a project in schools which were then closed. To help staff and parents support speech and language, they quickly adapted training to deliver e-learning and offer remote support.

Georgette Eaton for London Ambulance Service’s Advanced Paramedic Practitioner (Urgent Care) programme, explains: ‘Seeing the rise in call volume, the Service responded quickly with adaptability, flexibility and safety. Overnight, they adjusted their clinical role to provide telephone consultation to patients who phoned 999.  Their ‘can do’ attitude is outstanding. They are true clinical leaders and their contribution to patient assessment and care deserves recognition.’

Anthony De Souza, healthcare science practice educator and the brilliant healthcare science education team at Great Ormond Street Hospital have gone above and beyond to support a new workstream which enables adult testing of staff and community samples. Despite none of the team being virologists, they have worked across boundaries to ensure that this novel model could be rapidly established for the benefit of staff and the wider community.

Jan Burke, research occupational therapist, on behalf of the Staff Wellbeing Service, Swansea Bay, tells us that the core team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, counsellors and admin support have joined with psychologists and coaches to support colleagues. The service has been swiftly reconfigured and extended to run from 7am – 9pm, 7 days a week to help sustain those working at the ‘front line’ and behind the scenes to enable them to continue their vital work.

Stephen Hadfield, principal clinical scientist, and the healthcare science staff from the Toxoplasma Reference Unit and Public Health Wales Virology rapidly re-purposed their molecular testing facilities to develop a COVID-19 testing capability and fast-tracked its roll-out.  Staff worked long hours and changed patterns of working without hesitation. The ‘new’ combined team from within both Departments cut turnaround times as well as contributing to Wales’ overall capacity for testing.

Sally Wood, lead physiotherapist for pulmonary rehabilitation and chest physiotherapist, Essex Partnership is nominated for her outstanding support and dedication.  She has adapted the whole pulmonary rehabilitation service, with the help of support staff, to provide an alternative structured home programme, with regular telephone/video consultation review for patients. Sally has also been key in providing much valued respiratory update training to 40 physiotherapy staff.

If you would like to nominate a colleague or team, go to https://ahawards.co.uk/esteem/

 

 

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