The help and care which one of our health visitors has given to local mums over the past 25 years earned her the Chairman’s Award in the NHS Forth Valley 2015 Staff Awards. No less than 67 nominations from patients and colleagues were received for Sheila Atalla, a health visitor based at Meadowbank Healthcare Centre in Polmont, who was described as “a real treasure in the health service” and “an incredible support to women wishing to breast feed.”
Sheila, who runs a breastfeeding support group in Brightons Community Hall and has backed the Buggy Walking Scheme in Polmont, was also praised for her commitment to supporting local families. One mum of twins told how Sheila phoned her at midnight the day of their birth; another wrote that Sheila was “a fabulous caring person that would go to the ends of the earth to help.”
Presenting the trophy at the NHS Forth Valley 2015 Staff Awards ceremony on 16th September 2015, NHS Forth Valley’s Chairman Alex Linkston said: “The number of nominations Sheila received is testimony to how highly she is regarded by patients, colleagues and the local community where she works. I am very proud that staff of her calibre are working in NHS Forth Valley and willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver outstanding care and support on a daily basis.”
The Chairman’s Award was one of seven awards presented to recognise the work of individuals, teams and volunteers from across the organisation. This year’s winners and runners up were selected from 526 nominations – up from more than 350 last year.
2015 Staff Award Winners
OUTSTANDING CARE AWARD:
Winner: Ward A12, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
“Thank you for the kindness, friendliness, care and support”
“The response, care and exceptional smiling staff of Ward 12 has impressed us”
“The team work extremely hard and well together, and I feel privileged to work with such an effective team”
First Runner Up: Annemarie King, Paediatric Complex Care Sister
“She sees my child as far more than the sum of her medical problems”
Second Runner Up: Children’s Ward, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
“Their care, time, empathy and understanding is second to none. No stone was left unturned”
INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Liaison Psychiatry for Older People
“They have expanded their service to work over seven days to improve outcomes for older people”
“The team involves families/carers in every case”
“Reduced lengths of stay and improved home discharge rates have been shown”
First Runners Up: Nicola Henderson and Caroline Ritchie, Dietitians
“The work that these two members of staff have undertaken has been truly transformational”
Second Runner Up: Reliable Rescue Team, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
“A fall in sepsis mortality of 12% per year – an amazing achievement”
INSPIRATION AWARD
Winner: Lynn Speed, Lead Physiotherapist for Mental Health
“Lynn is imaginative, positive, empathetic and gives so much to the field of Mental Health in Forth Valley”
“Lynn conducts herself with quiet professionalism and dignity”
“Skilled at encouraging and developing staff”
First Runner Up: Allison Ramsay, Lead Nurse Learning Disabilities
“Allison’s personal values are exemplary and her approach to everyone is of a standard that we should all strive to deliver”
Second Runner Up: Ross Cheape, Senior Charge Nurse, Ward 2, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
“Ross continually has a smile on his face which lifts my spirits and makes me feel like the day is worth taking on”
TOP TEAM AWARD
Winner: Ward A11, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
“Great quality of staff, efficiency and really excellent quality of care”
“A team that lead by example and embrace change. They are not afraid to challenge the normal day to day process to optimise the outcome for the patient”
“A caring and compassionate team who support relatives during difficult times”
First Runner Up: Paediatric Diabetes Nursing Team
“The impact of the team has stopped children having to be admitted to hospital in diabetic crisis”
Second Runner Up: Orthopaedic Team
“All members of the team go above and beyond what is required and as a result we have a very coherent team who get the job done”
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Winner: Rosemari Penman, Administrator, Clackmannanshire Community Health Centre
“Rosemari is an excellent role model and takes on any extra task in her stride. You never feel that anything is a problem”
“She is a constant, reliable, professional, conscientious, dedicated, motivated and forward thinking member of staff”
“Regularly assisting others with a cheerful, bright and friendly manner”
First Runner Up: Helen Lawson, Pharmacy Support Worker
“Helen is a true hero and needs to know how much we as a team appreciate her”
Second Runner Up: Philip Hacking, Health and Social Care Chaplain
“Shows genuine compassion, sensitivity, commitment, openness and flexibility. His concern for the ‘other’ is always first on his agenda”
VOLUNTEER AWARD
Winner: NHS Forth Valley’s Nurses Choir
“My wife has dementia and doesn’t speak very often. When listening to the choir she sang along with every song. Thank you”
“They work in their own time raising funds for so many worthy charities and raising the spirits of patients”
“Managed to hear them sing at Christmas in the front lobby and they were like angels, truly”
First Runner Up: Sheila Pheely and the RVS Cafe Team, Stirling Community Hospital
“Sheila is 82 years old and works every day organising the RVS cafe. An inspiration to us all she has a heart of gold and really does put other people first”
Second Runner Up: Maureen Egdell, Volunteer, Ward 1, Clackmannanshire Community Hospital
“Mo is a very happy lady and is a ray of sunshine in the ward. Loved by both staff and patients”
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
Winner: Sheila Atalla, Health Visitor, Meadowbank Health Centre, Polmont
“A wonderful person with so much to give to us mums and babies”
“Sheila is always there if I need any support and nothing is a problem”
“Her support has helped me more than I can put into words”
