Heartbeat: Focus on Paula Arlington, winner of the Chairman’s award

January 25, 2022

At this year’s Star Awards Paula Arlington, Lead Nurse for Quality in Care Homes scooped the Chairman’s award for notable contribution to the local health and social care system. This special award is presented to an individual or team who has made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of patients, carers or the public in the Sandwell and West Birmingham community.

The award winner will have demonstrated how they have linked up different teams or organisations, and been instrumental in breaking down barriers for the benefit of patients or the wider population. Paula was recognised for making a real difference to our most vulnerable patients during the pandemic and a look at her 23 year career shows exactly why.

Starting her NHS career at Rowley as a healthcare assistant in 1999, she went onto study nursing at university in 2004. Upon qualification she worked in care homes and in 2010 worked for a short period at Russells Hall focussing on renal cardiology and diabetes.

She came back to our Trust in 2012 and worked as a community nurse. She then undertook her community nursing practitioner degree, became an autonomous practitioner and held an independent prescribing qualification.

In 2016 she joined the community outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy team driving the development of intravenous antibiotics in the community, a service she developed for two years. In 2018 she was successful in securing the better care funded post as lead nurse for quality and safety in care homes, working with Sandwell MBC and our Trust. This post was the first of its kind in Sandwell and has led the way.

Paula has built up strong relationships with care home managers and she is the go to person for advice and support which stood her in good stead when managing the pandemic.

During the peak of the pandemic, much of the council’s front line services were not patient facing and it was Paula who would be available and working alongside the care homes.

She supported the management of outbreaks and provided expert advice regarding PPE requirements. She even delivered essential supplies and provided a crucial bridge between public health and the care homes.

As you know, the number of COVID related deaths in care homes was sadly devastating. But Sandwell had the lowest regionally and nationally. Speaking of her win, Paula said: “I was pleased, honoured, excited and very surprised to win the award. I feel privileged to be recognised in such a special way.”