Sligo University Hospital wins two Awards at the Saolta University Health Care Group Staff Recognition Awards

Staff at Sligo University Hospital received two awards at the recent Saolta University Health Care Group Staff Recognition Awards which took place on Friday November 13 last at an event in the Sligo Park Hotel.  The Cardiac Diagnostics in the Community Project at the Hospital received the Quality Improvement Award while The Keepsake Tapestries for Bereaved Parents Programme was the winner of the award in the Innovation – Non Clinical category.

Presenting the Quality Improvement Award to the Cardiac Diagnostics in the Community Team, Maurice Power, CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group noted, “This project saw the introduction of cardiac diagnostic tests into the community and away from the acute hospital setting as a jointly funded project with Community Services, thus reducing stress, cost and anxiety for often elderly patients. It has also improved acute patient flow within the hospital, reduced lengths of stay, and reduced numbers of bed days used for patients awaiting cardiac investigations”.

Presenting the Innovation – Non Clinical Award to the Sligo team, Maurice Power added, “This initiative combines the local Yeats Country Quilters and Sligo University Hospital in offering a gift to bereaved parents, a memento to clothe their beloved during the viewing in the Mortuary - a simple initiative but displays sensitivity and support to the recently bereaved”. 

A number of other Sligo projects were shortlisted as finalists on the night including;  the Multi-Discipline Pre-Assessment Clinic at Sligo University Hospital shortlisted in the Best Team category, the Ophthalmology Specialty - Sligo University Hospital / Community Health Office shortlisted in the Innovation – Clinical category, the Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy Observational Study, Sligo University Hospital shortlisted in the Research category and Conor McLoughlin,  Maintenance Manager of Sligo University Hospital shortlisted in the Unsung Hero category . The Improving Patient Flows - Management Information Department, Sligo University Hospital and the Electronic Documentation Management System -Consumer Services Team Sligo University Hospital nominated in the 'Innovation – Non Clinical category.

Marita Keenan, Staff Midwife, SUH worked as part of the Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy Service at Galway University Hospitals which jointly received the Research Award at the event.

This is the second year of the Saolta University Health Care Group Staff Recognition Awards which aims to recognise and reward excellent staff performance, promote a sense of pride and reinforce the Saolta University Health Care Group as an excellent place to work. The awards celebrate achievements in the areas of patient care, education and research. Applicants from across the Group’s hospitals were invited to participate in eight categories. A total of almost 140 entries were received and these were shortlisted to finalists in each category by an independent judging panel. The winners were announced on the evening by event host Norah Casey at an event attended by the finalists. The Saolta Staff Recognition Awards is self-funding from sponsorship received.

Photo caption - Cardiac Diagnostics in the community: Jo Shortt, Senior Projects Officer; Anthony Ryan, Chief 2 Cardiac Physiologist; Regina McDonagh, Cardiac Investigations Secretary;  Maurice Power, CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group; Evelyn Fraine, Senior Cardiac Physiologist; Frank Morrison, General Manager, Older Persons Services and Anita Deane, Senior Cardiac Physiologist.

Photo caption - Keepsake tapestries: Maurice Power, CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group; Ann Hayes, Clinical Nurse Manager 3, End of Life Care; Maeve Lee, Secretary, Nursing Practice Development Unit; Ann Mc Coy, Clinical Nurse Manager 2; Florence Dixon, Yeats Country Quilters; Kate Bree, Asst Director of Nursing, Nursing Practice Development Unit and Jean Kelly, Group Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saolta University Health Care Group.