Galway University Hospital wins four Awards at the Saolta University Health Care Group Staff Recognition Awards

Staff at Galway University Hospitals received four 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 Intern Boot Camp and Nanny Programme from Galway University Hospitals won the Education and Training Award, the Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Service at Galway University Hospital won the Best Team award, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service at Galway University Hospitals won the Exceptional Patient Experience award and the Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy Service was joint winner in the Research award category.

Presenting the Education and Training Award to the Intern Boot Camp and Nanny Programme, Maurice Power, CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group noted, “The Intern Bootcamp aims to improve levels of preparedness for clinical practice - all 80 interns undergo intensive manikin based simulation training delivered by Intern Co-ordinator Dr. Dara Byrne and the team of ten over the course of one month - a unique team-based training for interns in Ireland”.

Presenting the Best Team award the Diabetic Retinopathy service, Maurice Power added “The Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Service at Galway University Hospital - exceeded all National Programme requirements and received maximum payments, meaning purchasing new equipment, including a laser machine which allows more patients to receive their sight preserving treatment”.

The third GUH project to win at the event was the Patient Advice and Liaison Service which won the Exceptional Patient Experience Award. Commenting on this service, Maurice Power noted, “This is an exciting project driven by patient experience, and grounded in patience and kindness, PALS provides support and guidance to patients and their families, carers and the public in general”.

Finally in the Research award category, the Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy Service at Galway University Hospitals was a joint winner together with the Mayo Medical Academy at Mayo University Hospital. This service focuses on pragmatic clinical and health services research impacting women with Diabetes before, during and after pregnancy.  The outcomes-significant improvements in congenital malformations, miscarriage and stillbirth rates, perinatal mortality for these women in the region are now ranked with the best international groups.

A number of other Galway projects were shortlisted as finalists on the night including:

·         The Stroke Patients’ Early Support Discharge Team which was shortlisted in the Best Team category and which aims to accelerate discharge for a subgroup of stroke patients, by providing an alternative to in-patient rehabilitation.

·         The Training and Education for Technology Based Medicine Team from Galway University Hospitals, nominated in the Education and Training award category- the teaching methods used by this innovative team are a mixture of conventional lectures, self-directed learning, interactive workshops and practical skill based training.

·         The Patient Flow in Haematology Day Ward Team, shortlisted in the Innovation in a Clinical Area category and who have streamlined the patient flow in the ward using the principles of “Lean thinking” reducing patient wait times and increased capacity.

·         St Marys Ward for the introduction of the Care Behaviours Assurance System©, - an evidence based system for delivering person-centred health and care from point of care to board shortlisted in the Exceptional Patient Care category.

·         The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Team, Galway University Hospitals- this multidisciplinary team has developed an exceptional patient care pathway and clinical competencies in the use of this innovative technology, successfully treating over 40 patients from all over Ireland.

·         Anne McKeown for her work as Bereavement Liaison Officer at Galway University Hospitals who was also shortlisted in the Exceptional Patient Care category.  Anne offers support on both emotional and practical levels to patients and families during the most difficult and traumatic times of their lives.

·         The Surgical Day Ward, Nurse Competency Book Initiative, nominated in the Quality Improvement category- This booklet provides a structured pathway of learning to allow for standardised skills and knowledge amongst nursing staff, providing first stage recovery care to day surgery patients.

·         The Haemovigilance, Blood and Tissue Establishment at GUH, nominated in the Education and Training category – they have been involved in multiple projects in the past year including novel training and education methods.

·         The Code Red Alert Programme at GUH was nominated in the Quality Experience category-   If certain life-threatening criteria are met, clinicians call Blood Establishment to enact the Code Red Alert, who in turn alert numerous other departments and services. The system has proved a calming measure in high pressure life-threatening bleeding episodes.

·         The Saolta Finance Team from Galway University Hospitals and Roscommon University Hospital designed and presented a programme for line managers in assisting them with improving their financial knowledge.

·         The Induction Portal Team at GUH was shortlisted in the Innovation- non clinical category. This user-friendly online induction portal was designed with contributions from all departments for use prior to taking up a clinical post in Galway.

·         Senior Registrar at GUH Dr Ann Meehan and Marie Gately of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Department at GUH were nominated in the Unsung Hero category.

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 Groups’ 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 Scheme is self-funding from sponsorship received.

Photo caption - Patient Advice and Liaison Team – Olive Gallagher and Ellen Wiseman receiving their award from Saolta University Health Care Group CEO, Maurice Power and Group Director of Nursing and Midwifery Jean Kelly.

Photo caption - Professor Fidelma Dunne and her team in the Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy Service receiving their award from Saolta University Health Care Group CEO, Maurice Power and Group Director of Nursing and Midwifery Jean Kelly.

Photo caption - GUH Medical Manpower Manager James Keane and Siobhan Murphy receive the Education and Training Award for the Intern Boot Camp and Nanny Programme from Saolta University Health Care Group CEO, Maurice Power.

Photo caption - Ms Deirdre Townley, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and the Diabetic Retinopathy team receiving their Best Team award from Saolta University Health Care Group CEO, Maurice Power and Group Director of Nursing and Midwifery Jean Kelly.