Team and Employee of the Month – May 2019

Good communication is key to success – not just within our Trust and between colleagues but with our patients and community too – and that’s why May’s Team of the Month is such a worthy winner.

I’d like you to join me in congratulating the Maternity Communication Group.

Matron, Midwifery and Gynaecology, Amanda Hardaker said: “We know that we work really hard and contribute to so many good things, however we seemed invisible. So In December 2018, I asked for a team of volunteers to ‘shout’ about what we do.

“Labour Ward Co-ordinators Gillian Butterfield and Fozia Arshad, along with midwives Emma Manners-Lilley and Lesley Bland became a team and produced the quarterly maternity services newsletter. Two have now been published – in January and April 2019.

“I’m immensely proud that this communication is making a significant difference not only to the Trust and staff but also to our mums. The visual monthly birth statistics and the 2018 achievement banner displayed in the entrance to the maternity unit are being talked about on social media and, in April 2019, the CQC noted the work of the communication group.”

In February this year, the group was joined by Specialist Midwife and supervisor Becky Palethorpe, who has also helped to increase the communication group’s social media presence by sharing the visuals on Facebook and Twitter.

Amanda added: “We are now being tweeted about, and the visuals have drawn many positive comments about how informative they are, including from local clinical commissioning group (CCG) colleagues. All of this is helping to trigger conversations and network with other maternity services.

“In essence, the team has demonstrated and contributed to the Trust’s values by being a continual learning group, collaborating effectively with local and regional partners, showing how we provide outstanding care for our patients, celebrating the quality services we provide, demonstrating team working and flexibility and ultimately raising the profile of the Trust.”

We are incredibly proud of the team for taking the initiative in looking at how best to reach mums and involve them in our maternity services, and congratulate them for their success.

Congratulations go to our Employee of the Month for May, Sister Paula Farrell, from Radiology! Paula was nominated by Consultant Radiologist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Quality, LeeAnne Elliott, who championed her leadership skills and support for nursing and radiographic colleagues who provide care for patients in all areas of imaging here at the Trust.

LeeAnne said: “Paula ensures that the nursing team provide high quality care and support to the interventional radiologists and cardiologists who perform often complex procedures to a high standard. She and a small team of nurses and radiographers were integral to setting up the nurse/radiographer-led PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line insertion service, under ultrasound guidance, to release radiologists and give them time to perform more complex procedures.

“Paula has engaged in quality improvement (QI) work, including the recent QI collaborative, to improve the management of the deteriorating patient. She instigated a daily radiology safety huddle, in line with wards within the hospital, and the department has been recognised as the first radiology department to implement the safety huddle within our region.”

Paula has also worked tirelessly with Bradford Hospitals’ Charity to plan new and improved patient facilities.

LeeAnne added: “The result of the first phase of this charity work has seen the creation of the new radiology waiting area for children at Bradford Royal Infirmary, and the addition of a ‘snuggle room’ where babies can fall asleep with parents and be scanned safely, avoiding the use of sedation or anaesthetic.”

More than 30 colleagues attended the surprised presentation where Director of Human Resources, Pat Campbell, presented Paula with her certificate. An emotional Paula said: “It makes my job easy working with such a dedicated and supportive team. I never expected this surprise – I just come into work every day to do my best. It’s been a really nice shock and a great honour to accept this award.”

Congratulations Paula! Your enthusiasm and leadership are an example to us all.