Coln Ward, from Cirencester Hospital, was officially named the South West winners in the NHS Parliamentary Awards Care and Compassion category, in an event held in London.
The team was represented at the ceremony by Sister Merri Hall, with her Gloucestershire Health and Care colleagues watching the event online from across a number of Trust premises.
The national award went to the Critical Care Family Liaison team, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, but it was an incredible achievement for Coln Ward to win the regional award and be shortlisted from over 700 nominations to reach the final stages.
Sister Merri Hall said: “I felt very proud to be present at the award ceremony; there was a real sense of solidarity and mutual understanding amongst all the participants. Although only one representative from each regional winner could be present at the actual ceremony, it was a real honour to represent not only Coln Ward, but also all those colleagues who were redeployed to work alongside us on the ward. Thankfully, some of the really tough times are fading into distant memory now, but what we will never forget is the support we had from our redeployed colleagues and our senior colleagues in the Trust”.
Coln Ward were nominated by colleagues at the hospital for the way in which they adapted to caring for COVID-19 patients while maintaining the highest levels of care and compassion. The nomination was submitted by Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for the Cotswolds.
In March 2020 – during the first wave of the Covid pandemic – the ward became a 20-bed covid ward which continued for 120 days. Throughout this time, they had additional redeployed staff supporting and providing patient care as part of the Trust’s response to the pandemic. The team also had student nurses on the ward who proved an invaluable support at the height of the pandemic. The team are extremely proud of their efforts and how they adapted and maintained the safety and wellbeing of patients and colleagues in response to the crisis.
Karen Fawcett, Senior Sister, Coln Ward, Cirencester Hospital said: “This has been one of the proudest moments in my career of 34 years in the NHS. To be part of this team and have a nomination let alone this award is an honour to say the least. Together, with or without Covid, we are committed to always giving our absolute best for our patients and their loved ones and together as a team we are committed to supporting each other through the highs and lows. This award shows how proud we are of each other and how we can adapt to the ever changing challenges that we face day to day. I cannot thank them enough for their dedication, support and the care they show to our patients and each other.”
Ward team celebrating their award
Linda Edwards, Matron, Cirencester Hospital said: “We are over the moon to win the South West Care and Compassion Award in the NHS Parliamentary Awards, and I am immensely proud of the team for their continued hard work and dedication to patient care throughout this highly pressured and difficult time. We have received such lovely feedback from the patients in our care, and this is testament to the Coln Ward staff who have gone above and beyond to ensure patients remain connected with their loved ones during the pandemic.”
Sister Merri Hall at the awards ceremony
