Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 4 August
August 7, 2023
We know that the last few weeks and months have been challenging in the NHS, locally and nationally. In my 30 years in the NHS, I have never experienced anything like it. We are asking a lot of you at the moment – all linked to our annual plan priorities – deliver “business as usual”, improve our urgent care and elective performance, deliver big reductions in expenditure on agency and locum staff and, of course, redesign services, get the fundamentals of care right and prepare ourselves for occupying our fantastic new hospital next year.
To compound the challenge, we are growing increasingly weary and fearful about the impact of both consultant and non-consultant industrial action, more of which is planned for next week and the bank holiday weekend. That impact is both on you as my colleagues, but also on our patients. Despite all of this, the resilience, good humour, professionalism and dogged hard work our colleagues put in, day in, day out, is what I admire.
My admiration and pride in what you all achieve was never more keenly felt than when I read the nominations for our annual Star Awards. This year we had over 500 nominations and I know that everyone involved in the judging process found it incredibly difficult to whittle it down to our shortlist, because of course, there is considerable merit in each and every one. Moreover, there will be people who weren’t nominated, who probably should have been.
Nominations for this year’s awards range from acts of exceptional kindness towards patients and relatives, to overcoming hurdles and outstanding leadership, leading by example. Each nomination had a common thread – our organisation is made up of truly remarkable people – making a real difference to our patients, colleagues and our population.
The individuals and teams selected have all gone above and beyond in their roles, and have lived our Trust Values of ambition, respect, and compassion, while in many cases implementing new and innovative ways of working.
For those who received a nomination, but haven’t reached the next stage, you should still be very proud of yourself, the fact that a colleague or patient recognised that you do a wonderful job and make a difference is something you shouldn’t lose sight of.
Congratulations to those who are on the shortlist, more information will be sent to you soon, but for now, make sure Friday 13 October is clearly marked in your diary!
Remember, you have the final say in three of our categories, you can vote for your winner in Employee of the Year, Non-Clinical Team of the Year and Clinical Team of the Year.
The nominees in these categories are:
Employee of the Year
Dr Huma Naqvi, Ortho-Geriatric Consultant
Jade Reberio, Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Urology
Rajeev Pathak, Operations Manager – Contact Centre, YHP PCN
Sue Hunt, Palliative and End of Life Clinical Service Manager
Susan Edwards, Lead Bereavement Nurse
Non-Clinical Team of the Year
Chaplaincy Team
Human Resources
Single Point of Access (SPA)
The Clinical Effectiveness Team
Clinical Team of the Year
Cancer Hotline Team
IBEDS Wards PCCT
Rapid Response Therapy Services
Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre
Urgent Community Response Team
The full shortlist can be downloaded here.
To submit your vote, click here. Voting closes on Friday 1 September.