Last Friday we celebrated our latest cohort of NBT Heroes!
Nominated by their colleagues for their outstanding contribution to making NBT a better place to work and a better place to receive treatment, these staff have gone above and beyond. Though the ceremony was still virtual to keep everyone safe, we did receive a lovely collection of selfies from our happy winners!
To find out more, read the full nominations below.
Aisha Jama (CT Radiographer)
nominated by James Bonner (Modality Lead CT Radiographer)
I would like to nominate one of my CT team, Aisha Jama. Aisha is always positive and helpful and has demonstrated on multiple occasions that she will go the extra mile to help both staff and patients. Aisha's recent actions helping support Intensive Care staff with a COVID positive patient who became acutely unwell during a CT scan were brought to my attention in a very complimentary email received from the anaesthetist who had accompanied the patient. The anaesthetist expressed their gratitude and praised Aisha for her support and cited her quick actions and instant teamworking as imperative in getting the patient back to the Intensive Care Unit as quickly as possible; even physically assisting with transferring the patient back from the scanner to ICU. I am very lucky to have staff like Aisha in the CT team!
Alan Whone (Consultant, Neurology)
nominated by Liz Coulthard (Consultant, Neurology)
and Luke Bennetto (Consultant, Neurology)
Liz:
Alan has led a transformation in neurology services through the COVID pandemic. This has been an enormous undertaking involving bringing together various parties after years of difficulty instigating change in neurology services. The results are that we now offer a new neurology ward consultant role - streamlining and offering continuity of care for all inpatients. We also offer a new acute neurology consultant-led service delivering a daily acute clinic including close supervision of SpRs covering clinic and ward and a GP phone-line direct to neurology consultant. We have also introduced daily advice and guidance which has been enthusiastically received by GPs. This is in conjunction with maintaining subspecialty services in the face of COVID pandemic. To introduce these things, Alan had to negotiate several obstacles and oversee job planning. We are now in a position to build further as one of the largest neurology departments in the country.
Luke:
Alan has led a period of unparalleled progress in the neurology service including hot clinics, consultant of the week and has supported the stroke department in their provision of one of the best thrombectomy services in the UK.
Mandi McCrossan (Ward Clerk, Stroke)
nominated by Rebecca Lunn (Clinical Lead Physiotherapist)
I feel that recently the ward clerks’ role has become incredibly challenging. They now find themselves in the difficult position of constantly having to turn visitors away. These people come, hoping that they might be granted a brief visit, even though they have been told that we can't allow visitors. On many occasions I have overheard Mandi talking so kindly to people who are desperate to visit. She is so patient and so understanding and the way she handles the situation is incredible. She does not patronise or belittle people, but calmly explains the reason why visiting is not allowed, compassionately and empathetically to the feelings of the visitors. She is a true hero and NBT are lucky to have her!
Angie Winter (Ward Sister, ICU)
nominated by Michael Puckey (Supervisory Charge Nurse, ICU)
Angie has been part of the backbone of ICU, both through the COVID pandemic and the longer-term success of ICU. She has for some time now, taken on large roles in teaching and developing renal replacement for the unit as well as more recently throwing herself whole heartedly into the new ECMO project. Alongside this, Angie has worked tirelessly as an unsung hero of ICU. She works her hardest every single day and without exception is the champion for those staff she leads and the patients she and they care for. As excellence is the norm for Angie, she perhaps does not get the recognition she deserves.
Beena Jose (Living Donor and Kidney Transplant Co-ordinator)
nominated by Phillippa Bailey (Consultant Nephrologist)
On the morning of a planned living donor kidney transplant, when the donor was already in theatre, the green surgical ward for living donor recovery closed due to COVID. After being informed by the transplant surgeon, Beena immediately alerted the rest of the on call transplant team, and then quickly went about finding a green bed space - liaising with the on call transplant surgeon and nephrologist, the bed manager and site team, and the 8B ward team. When a green bed was identified on 8B but no nursing staff available to deliver the required one-to-one nursing, Beena volunteered to cover this, went home, and returned in the evening to nurse the donor herself overnight. Living kidney donors are people who have volunteered to do something extraordinary for someone else: Beena did the same, to ensure the living donor was cared for to the highest standard after donation. In all her work Beena works hard to facilitate kidney donation and transplantation, whilst ensuring safety of all involved, particularly the living donors. She is an NBT hero and is well deserving of this award.
Brian McQuaid (Outpatient Physiotherapist)
nominated by Kerry Hunt (Physiotherapy Team Leader, Complex Care)
Brian has been redeployed to the complex care physiotherapy three times in the last year to support the surge staff within physiotherapy. Brian's normal role within NBT is in musculoskeletal outpatients and during the first wave it was his first time working in a ward environment for many years. Whilst being redeployed he has become an integral team member of the inpatient team, working flexibly across all the medicine wards. During this time he has quickly adapted to new processes and systems that we use including computer systems. He is always keen to help out anyone who requires support and has provided excellent patient care fully embracing his temporary role contributing to the team. He has provided the team with many stories spreading laughter and cheer at the darkest moments. Although working out of his normal clinical speciality Brian has utilised this to teach all of us other skills leading training sessions in assessment skills, discussing topics around pain management and helping us all to learn from him as I hope he learned from us. We will be very sad to see Brian return to his normal post as we will definitely miss his humour and presence within the team. As a team we wanted him to be recognised by NBT as a true hero stepping up when the physiotherapy department and trust needed him the most. Thank you, Brian.
Daisy Headington (Colorectal Waiting List Co-ordinator)
nominated by Lynsey Wynn (General Surgery Support Manager)
I want to nominate this member of staff because she has always gone above and beyond for patients and her colleagues. She has had cards and gifts sent in from patients to thank her so much for her help whilst booking them in for surgery and appointments. She sometimes deals with very upset and anxious patients and she always manages to keep them calm and takes the time to understand their situation and resolves issues to the best of her ability. She offered to help and take on extra work by learning how to carry out the waiting list role when a member of staff went on secondment, and although this is a completely different role from her Colorectal secretary role she has taken to it extremely well. She has even come in after work to give a patient paperwork regarding their surgery as the patient was worried and she put them at ease. No matter what issue I have as her manager she always offers to help when she can. She is always approachable, and I cannot thank her enough for all the hard work she has put in since she joined us in General Surgery. This nomination is my thanks to Daisy because I think many in this office would agree she has been nothing but supportive and helpful with whatever is asked of her.
Donna Paddon (Medical Education Manager)
nominated by Emma Thorman (Core Medical Trainee)
Donna has been a wonderful source of support during such a difficult time. She has made every effort to support me personally as I return from maternity leave and has an excellent reputation amongst the medical trainees for always doing her utmost to help us in our training. She is an excellent advocate for us all and manages to smooth over all manner of problems that we face, even those that aren't in her remit. I don't know what I would have done without such a steady and reassuring person at the end of an email during a tumultuous return to work!
Dumbi Malengana (Team Leader, Decontamination Services)
nominated by Michael Norman (Assistant Technical Officer, Decontamination Services)
I would like to nominate Dumbi Malengana as an NBT Hero. The reason I believe Dumbi to be a hero is firstly his dedication and drive to lead the team, sometimes in very challenging circumstances, to meet theatres requests and ensure that theatres receive their instruments for procedures in a timely manner. Dumbi has also stepped up to cover the Sunday to Tuesday Production Co-ordinators role while the current Production Co-ordinator was off shielding because of COVID. His tireless efforts and willingness to adapt to the conditions he was presented with should be recognised, as well as his leadership on nightshifts to get the job done to a high standard.
Helen Jones (Senior Sister, 7B)
nominated by Sue Mallett (Divisional Deputy Director of Nursing, NMSK)
Helen has shown considerable resilience throughout the pandemic and she has risen to every challenge thrown at her. The ward has moved, been yellow, green and blue. Her staff have moved depending on the colour of ward yet she has supported them and maintained a positive outlook. She takes everything in her stride and as a result her team pull together and work through all scenarios with professionalism and compassion. From an elective orthopaedic ward, they have housed 12 different surgical specialities and are now home to medical COVID positive patients. Helen continues to respond positively and works exceptionally hard to maintain a supportive working environment for her team and all those within the division.
Kathryn Tudor (Volunteer Services Manager)
nominated by James Iddon (Matron, Operations)
Kat Tudor has gone above and beyond this year with her support of the Trust’s winter adverse weather plan, while we had a gap in our Emergency Planning team. From the first moment that I contacted Kat to ask for advice she has been superb. She approached the whole project with enthusiasm and an inspiringly "can do" attitude. My request for advice immediately turned into Kat taking the lead on the creation of a new volunteer role at NBT. What was truly impressive was the time frame involved - with the threat of winter weather upon us Kat pulled out all the stops but cut none of the corners. Creating a new role and recruitment process whilst ensuring due diligence at every step along the way. She is a shining example of what makes us NBT Proud.
Kirsty McGovern (Staff Nurse, ICU)
nominated by Leanne Knight (Specialist Nurse Practitioner, ICU)
The Organ donation team at Southmead Hospital would like to nominate Kirsty McGovern, Staff Nurse in the Intensive Care unit, as a NBT hero for going above and beyond her role to support the family of a 20 year old patient who became an organ donor at Southmead earlier this month.
Kirsty first met the family of the patient at the beginning of her night shift and immediately created a warm, calm environment supporting the family as they began the transition from hope of recovery to the first stages of a grieving process. Guiding a family through this process requires experience, empathy and simple human kindness, all traits that Kirsty continually demonstrates.
The following morning, Kirsty provided continuity of support to the family. One relative in particular was struggling to come to terms with the situation, and was concerned about staff/shift change over, the loss of the relationship that Kirsty had established with her and having to re-establish a new relationship with a new member of staff at this highly emotive time. Kirsty stayed with the family until the patient was transferred to the operating theatre for organ donation, providing the continuity of support that were so important to them. As a Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation, I was working alongside Kirsty and the family and was therefore able to witness the positive impact Kirsty’s kindness and expertise had on this family in those very difficult few hours and I know that they will never forget this. In doing so she will have made a fundamental difference in how that family adjust to life as they move forwards following their bereavement. This selfless act of compassion towards those most in need was truly above and beyond that required of her and is a great example of exemplary nursing care. In our world of complex machines and drugs it is easy to forget what a profound difference excellent nursing care can make. Thank you Kirsty.
Krisztina Pazsy (Data Validation and Performance Lead, Trauma and Orthopaedics)
nominated by Charlotte Hall (Performance and Operations Manager)
Krisztina joined the T&O Performance Team in 2020 in a new role as Data Validation and Performance Lead. Not long after joining us, we were hit with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been a fantastic support to the T&O management team during this time, managing her performance team with little guidance or input. She has quickly grasped the priorities of the Trust and the department and worked quickly to integrate herself into the team. Krisztina always works hard, is punctual and reliable. She has built a fantastic relationship with her team and has worked hard to make sure they feel supported, despite all 3 of them working solely from home during the pandemic. Krisztina has been recently seconded as team leader supporting the Operations Performance team with a national clinical validation project for the Trust. She has embraced this change to her role and has worked brilliantly with the rest of the team from ASCR and W&C to ensure that the project is a success also ensuring that responses received from patients are actioned in a timely manner. Krisztina has been a great support to the team, always remaining calm, positive and proactively helping them with any daily queries from patients or the dedicated call centre etc. set up specifically for the project. Krisztina has been an invaluable resource to both teams this year and we couldn't have managed without her!
Lesley Roper (Move Maker, Volunteers)
nominated by Hilary Bloor (Move Maker)
Since the start of the first lockdown, and whilst unable to return to her Move Maker role, Lesley has undertaken walking a sight-impaired patient's dog for up to an hour, 3 times a week, whilst the patient undergoes renal dialysis. Lesley has cheerfully carried out this assistance without missing one day since March 2020. Given that this is some considerable time that Lesley has contributed to walking her 'dog friend' and looking after his needs, this has also helped with the patient's welfare as he knows his dog is being looked after whilst he is in treatment. I am in awe of this dedication for a furry friend (and his owner) and feel that Lesley is deserving of a very big thank you.
Lise Gadish (Staff Nurse, Gate 5 Centralised Outpatients)
nominated by Kelly Bullock (Clinical Matron)
Lise has worked in Outpatients for many years. Last year she highlighted an issue that was longstanding since the first wave of COVID which affects patient care and highlights system process errors with one of our large venesection clinics. Lise has been recognised for rising to the challenge in starting to address this issue (with a bottom up approach) and has worked tirelessly (often in her own time) in proactively formulating solutions and spotlighting the issue with the senior management teams in both outpatients and the wider speciality so that solutions can be found. Lise herself voiced how this work was outside of her usual comfort zone, having not undertaken a project of this magnitude previously, but has really stepped up and been inclusive of the wider team who are affected by this issue. Although this remains a work in progress, I personally would like to thank her for all her hard work on this and feel she should be recognised for stepping out of her comfort zone in driving this important change which will directly improve patient experience and care.
Natalie Smith (NHS Graduate Management Trainee)
nominated by Nickola Gipp (Operational Lead, NBT Vaccination Hub)
Natalie has been supporting the Southmead Vaccination Hub in L&R since its opening in December 2020. Natalie has been pivotal in the success of the hub with her 'can do' and positive attitude. The vaccination hub was set up in a very short timescale, with some complex operational challenges. Natalie has faced these head on and been a real rock to the Operational Lead. Natalie left the vaccination hub at the end of February and she has been very missed. However, she has successfully secured herself a post within the NMSK division, and we wish her well in her future career! A true hero that should be recognised for all her hard work and long hours of dedication.
Neil Rayner (Resourcing Delivery Manager, Employment Services)
nominated by Anthony Dorman (People Partner, NMSK)
I would like to nominate Neil as he has worked tirelessly in support of delivering the recruitment challenges across the Trust. He really grasps a customer-centric approach and seeks to identify solutions rather than focusing on problems or processes excessively. He has shown a huge commitment and responsiveness in supporting rapidly changing expectations and requirements to recruit and onboard staff and students at short notice. Neil has fully appreciated the impacts and importance of the requirements and sought to link in with other teams and departments to coordinate the collective efforts across multiple teams.
Paul Bowden (Customer Care Operative, Security and Parking)
nominated by Emma Bedggood (Personalised Care and Support Lead, Cancer Services)
Paul joined the North Bristol Trust Mass Vaccination Hub from the beginning, in early December. From day one, he supported and helped the staff who were setting up and running the hub with a very can-do approach. Paul was always extremely reliable, punctual and professional. The vaccination hub was new to us all and Paul brilliantly took on the security role, welcoming people into the hub, checking they did not have Coronavirus symptoms and that they had an appointment. He managed the queues when they got long, he helped ensure coronavirus related restrictions were followed, he ensured older people did not wait in the cold and that they had a seat to wait for their appointment. He always sought advice when he needed it. The initial mass vaccination team thought very highly of Paul, he was a very valued member of our team. His smiley attitude and willingness to get involved was fantastic, he went way above his role. We missed him very much when he was asked to support the opening of Ashton Gate vaccination hub, but understood his calm clear approach was needed in another new set up. Paul even spread festive cheer before Christmas by wearing a Father Christmas shirt, hat, glasses and beard to welcome people into the vaccination hub!
Richard Ansell (Deputy Service Delivery Manager, Service Desk)
nominated by Gabor Csorba (Patient Flow Navigator)
Richard has been a dedicated member of the IT ServiceDesk team who has managed to make time to find solutions for our IT issues even when the ServiceDesk was short of staff and under pressure. With perseverance and collaboration, he resolved issues that had been long overdue which has made a difference to our department. Thank you and your team for all your hard work.
Ruth Worner (Acute Research Nurse, Clinical Research Centre)
nominated by Liz Goff (Research Administrator)
Over this last year (and beyond) Ruth has been consistent, passionate and energised with recruitment in Research. She connects so well with the patients she recruits and remembers all the small details from patients from not just recent studies but studies from previous years. She really has a passion to understanding them and connecting with them. I wanted to nominate Ruth to recognise her commitment and involvement with Research whilst delivering important research through such an unprecedented difficult year with the Pandemic and changes within Research. She is a joy to work with and encourages the rest of her team.
Yegor Tryliskyy (ST3 Doctor, Upper GI Surgery)
nominated by Sarah Dyer (Nurse Practitioner, Upper GI Surgery)
and Zoe Bakewell (CT1, General Surgery)
Sarah:
Yegor is the kindest most hardworking member of staff we have had in our department for a while. He is conscientious, polite and never says no! He actively volunteers to help junior members of the team and is always pro-active in his work - often delegating the trickier jobs to himself to take the workload strain away from them. We cannot fault him, and this nomination comes from the entire team!
Zoe:
Yegor always goes the extra mile. He is extremely hardworking and is always present as a registrar. He supports both junior and senior staff members. He is extremely proactive on the ward and on call. He is also extremely efficient in theatre. He is very knowledgeable and willing to teach all junior staff. He never shirks duty and is always more than happy to lend a hand wherever it is needed. He is a team worker and has a compassionate attitude towards staff and patients. He really deserves an NBT hero award because he goes the extra mile for everyone else.