by Laura Dobie, Knowledge and Information Skills Specialist
On Friday 12th May I headed to Inveraray for the Argyll and Bute Nursing Excellence Awards. This is the first year of the awards, which celebrate outstanding care by nurses and other healthcare professionals, and were organised to coincide with International Nurses’ Day. Staff were nominated by colleagues, and there was also a patients’ choice award. Nominations were based on caring behaviours, including attentive listening, honesty, patience, sensitivity and respect.
Lead Nurse Liz Higgins introduced the day and highlighted the invaluable contribution that nurses make to patient care, and Nurse Director Heidi May thanked staff for all their hard work. Dr Lorraine Duers, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, then gave a lively talk on her experiences of nursing, based around the theme of caring behaviours.
Everyone had a chance to catch up over lunch, then it was time for the awards ceremony. Here are the winners…
Health Care Assistant of the Year: Linda Black, Dunoon
Patients’ Choice Award: Mid Argyll Extended Community Care Team, Lochgilphead
Nurse Director’s Award for Lifetime Contribution to Nursing: Sheila Letford, Oban
Lead Nurse Award for Mentor of the Year: Joanne Hill, Dunoon
Co-Workers Nursing Star Award: Tiree team (Catriona Cowling, Mairi Maclean, Storm Byfield, Alison Colthart)
Team of the Year: Bute Midwifery Team (Ann McClean, Fiona Hood, Lesley McArthur, Fiona MacCallum)
Nurse of the Year: Carol-Anne McDade, Helensburgh
There was also a final, surprise award for Pat Tyrrell, Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery, who has just retired after 40 years in the profession. The Pat Tyrrell Award for Caring Behaviours recognised the contribution that Pat has made to the profession, and the legacy that she leaves. On receiving her award Pat emphasised that nurses in Argyll and Bute really go above and beyond, and that she thinks that nursing is the best career.
It’s great that Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership have organised these awards to give staff the recognition for all their hard work, and I enjoyed hearing about the great care that nurses and other healthcare professionals provide to the people of Argyll and Bute.
You can view some of the Twitter highlights from the day in this Storify.
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