News

Two play specialists and a phlebotomist have been given Kettering General Hospital ROSE Awards for their outstanding support for patients.

 Skylark Ward Play Specialists, Claire Green and Louise McKerral, and Phlebotomist, Collette Brennan, were nominated for their awards from patients and families they have supported.

 Claire was nominated by the parents of a six-year-old boy who has had to have many tests since he was two years old.

 Part of their nomination reads:

 “Hundreds of injections, hundreds of blood tests, and scary investigations later have taken their toll. He becomes hysterical with fear and anxiety at the thought of yet another needle or cannula. Claire has somehow (I honestly do not know how!) managed to befriend him and has become the one hospital person that he truly trusts and will listen too. She has literally worked wonders with his anxiety and distress. He has finally started to progress in the right direction. She has made this very scared child smile, and even laugh, at his most distressing times. Whilst supporting his upset, stressed mum throughout the process too. You are helping our little boy have a childhood free of fear and trauma. And we, his parents, are so thankful and appreciative of all you do to help our little boy.”

 Louise McKerral, a Play Specialist on Skylark Ward, was nominated by a parent of a child who has been in and out of hospital regularly.

 The nomination reads:

 “Louise comes into a child’s room and is like a ray of sunshine. She manages to light up a child’s life at a distressing time in their lives. My daughter has been in and out of KGH from age 3, she had a rare autoimmune disease which took years to diagnose. Each time we came in our daughter was in extreme pain and was sometimes treated for sepsis. As you could imagine she was very sad and very reluctant to let anyone near her let alone play with her. Louise worked her magic. To emotionally support a child in their time of need is no easy feat. Louise was not only there for our daughter but also supported me, who at the time I was in with my daughter but was also breastfeeding my son who wasn’t but had to be with me. Wonderful lady, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

 Phlebotomist Collette Brennan was nominated for her award by a grateful patient who had an appointment at Corby Diagnostic Centre. The patient’s nomination reads:

 “I was greeted by the loveliest of ladies, Collette, whose words and demeanour instantly put me at ease. She spoke to me with such kindness asking what my plans were for the day. Her kindness not only made me smile, but it also set me up for the day. Little did she realise I was also very anxious about the blood test and the result it could bring. By being kind she eased the anxiety I had been carrying. Blood tests can be very quick, but this shows no matter how brief the interaction it can truly impact on someone’s day. I just feel that this is a powerful reminder that we never know what battles others are facing and the fact Collette chose kindness in both her words and actions made me feel so much better. I’ve continued to tell people I know about this positive experience and this lovely lady will always be remembered for the way she made me feel. I believe Collette is an asset to the team, she truly deserves an award for her caring nature.”

 What the awards are

ROSE stands for Recognising Our Staff Excellence (ROSE) and celebrates care delivered by staff where they show empathy, compassion, and dedication, that goes beyond the normal call of duty.

 Staff who can be nominated include clinical healthcare support workers, allied health professions (AHPs), such as therapists, operating department practitioners, and radiographers. The awards also include pharmacists, scientists, and other non-nursing or non-medical clinical registrants.

 KGH Deputy Director for Allied Health Professionals, Prof Ganesh Baliah, said: “Claire, Louise, and Collette, all demonstrate the attention to detail, compassion, empathy, and caring attitudes that we aim to celebrate with our ROSE Awards.

 “Their nominations demonstrate just how important the kind of personalised support they deliver is to our patients and their families.”

 To make a ROSE nomination go to: https://kghnhs.verseonecloud.com/the-rose-award/

 All nominations will be reviewed by the ROSE judging panel on a quarterly basis. The awards look for staff who:

 Model empathy and demonstrate a caring attitude in all situations

• Demonstrate extraordinary clinical skills in the delivery of compassionate patient care
• Have a positive attitude and demonstrate professionalism in the work environment
• Exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of KGH
• Establish a special connection with the patients and families.