Shortlisted entries in the Team of the Year- Non-Clinical are:
Ruth Birkenshaw and Bereavement Team
The Bereavement Team were nominated for the work they did to ensure that families were able to receive death certificates when they were unable to come onto a hospital site during the COVID pandemic. A team of retired doctors were brought in to help with the process. They also brought on a team of volunteers to ensure that any property was taken to patients’ homes to save relatives coming into hospital.Despite the pressures, the team had more time to chat to bereaved families and respond directly to their needs and wants at a very difficult time.
COVID Wellbeing Team
During the pandemic there was, understandably, a lot of concern for the wellbeing of the Trust’s workforce. This resulted in the creation of the COVID Wellbeing Team, consisting of a broad range of colleagues who, at the first ask, offered support without hesitation.
Since March 2020, the team have seen a huge array of wellbeing support imagined, tailored to meet the new restrictions and relaunched. They have supported hundreds of colleagues and created and piloted projects liked the virtual spaces, sourced new information and shared it in accessible ways, promoted and shared kind donations from members of the public and colleagues, and set up physical wellbeing hubs and a Whatsapp messaging service. They continue to support the organisation and hope to do so well into the future.
Emergency Planning Team
The Emergency Planning Team were nominated for making sure that we have the necessary plans in place should the worst ever happen.
Without their planning and guidance, the Trust’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic may have been much slower and less efficient. Within hours they created a physical Gold command and pulled everyone together to make sure we were able to respond as quickly as possible to the pandemic, while at the same time enabling our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other teams to continue caring for our patients. They work tirelessly behind the scenes, making sure all colleagues, patients and visitors are safe when they come to our hospitals.
Stores teams, Trustwide
The stores teams across ULHT were nominated for the way they have handled their normal workload on top of the added pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. There were numerous stories of how they went above and beyond to support individuals, their wards and departments to ensure that they had everything they needed. They have been there to support with everything and dealt with any issues very calmly and professionally, and been contactable throughout.
Over the last year, they have had to deal with millions of pieces of PPE as well as taking deliveries of extra cleaning products, COVID screens, treats for staff and so much more, but nothing has been too much trouble.