Quality accreditation award recognises the way hospital staff support carers

Staff from the colorectal and stoma care department at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital have received a prestigious award for the way they support unpaid carers.

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The practical and emotional implications of a caring role can be stressful and demanding, with adults both young and old often finding it hard to juggle the commitment with everyday life.

The Lincolnshire Carers Quality Award recognises organisations that place a high value on the identification, views and needs of carers and is given to those which meet the criteria for ensuring a high quality standard of service for carers.

The colorectal and stoma care nursing team at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust’s Pilgrim hospital treat patients who have a range of both malignant and benign bowel issues.

They are led by Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Sally Nightingale, who said that carers play an important role which is something definitely worth celebrating.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have received this award, we’re only the second department within the Trust to have done so and the first at Pilgrim.

“We involve carers in all aspects of the patients care and offer them support in the community and in the clinical setting.

“We explore their needs during treatment sessions and we have a display board in our waiting area to explain the notion of what an unpaid carer is as there are many in the community who may not realise exactly what they do.

“I’d like to thank our administrator Michelle Furnell for taking the lead in this project and her enthusiasm which carried the other members of the team, deputy sisters Debra Pycock, Sarah Hill, Julia Chance and Michelle Allbrook.”

The award was presented by county-based charity ‘Every-One’, which is commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council to support the continuing development of quality approaches for those with unpaid caring responsibilities.

Julie Goy, Quality Development Lead for ‘Every-One’ said: “It has been a pleasure working with the team over the past few months. The assessment panel were particularly impressed with the high quality of the evidence submitted which really
demonstrated a commitment to the support of unpaid carers.

“We would like to congratulate the staff team on their dedication and commitment.”

For further information about the Carers Quality Award and/or an application form, please contact Julie Goy on 07493 289866 or email [email protected]