Sophie Whiles takes gold in this month’s ARC Star Award
August 14, 2024
We are delighted to announce that our August’s winner of ARC Star Award – Sophie Whiles who has recently showed real commitment to delivering compassionate care to her patients.
Colleagues across the organisation were nominated for the award which reflects our Trust Values – Ambition, Respect and Compassion, but it was the Occupational Therapist, who stood out to the judges.
She was presented with a certificate, badge and £30 voucher by Deputy Chair Lesley Writtle who said: “Sophie went above and beyond to ensure a palliative patient and her family had everything they needed whilst in our care”.
The recipient of the newly established ARC Star Award is someone who consistently lives our values throughout their everyday life and will go above and beyond to make a difference within their team and towards their patients.
Watch Lesley surprise Sophie with her award, in the video below
Rebecca Lamb, Senior Physiotherapist and Trauma and Orthopaedic Therapy Service Lead who added: “During her time of assisting the Trauma and Orthopaedic therapy team, Sophie was recently involved with a patient on the ward who had hip surgery and was diagnosed with cancer with a prognosis of 6+months. Sophie developed a wonderful rapport with the patient and her family on the ward.”
“Co-incidentally the patients’ health deteriorated over a short space of time and it was deemed that her life expectancy would be days/weeks rather than months. In the following days Sophie came to assist the T&O therapy team and was surprised that the patient was still in hospital because the plan had always been for her to return home. Sophie offered immense support to the family on the ward who were incredibly grateful for the support offered to them as a family.”
“Unfortunately, the family had not been issued with a memory box on the ward. Sophie identified this and endeavoured to source one for the family. The memory boxes were locked up in the palliative care office and, therefore, not accessible. Sophie did not give up and liaised with ITU to see if they had anything to replace it. The memory boxes available were just for babies however Sophie was determined to sort something out for the family as promised.
“She took all the irrelevant items out that were child-specific and was able to collect a fingerprinting kit along with other memory items. Sophie very kindly took fingerprints and handprints of the patient after her passing to give to the family. The family were most grateful for the time and effort that Sophie had gone to ensure that they had something to take away with them.”
Lesley added: “Reading Sophie’s nomination was a joy to read – during a time of difficulty for the patient, Sophie really went above and beyond and showed a real commitment to ensuring the patient and her family were well cared for. I am always delighted to be asked to present the ARC Star Awards – our people are our greatest asset and this is a great opportunity for colleagues to be recognised for the difference they make to our patients, people and the population of Sandwell and West Birmingham.”
Do you know someone who could be our next ARC Star? Nominate them now by going to the link here.