Staff rewarded for their Inspiration (From The Northern Echo)

Staff rewarded for their Inspiration

3:03pm Wednesday 30th December 2009 in NHS Darlington and County Durham

The stars of NHS Darlington and County Durham and Darlington Community Health Services shone bright last night at a glittering awards presentation to celebrate staff achievements.

The 2009 Inspiration Awards which took place in the Bishop Suite at The Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham, paid tribute to staff who go above and beyond the call of duty in their roles.

Staff from across the Trust were invited to nominate their colleagues for a range of five hotly contested awards and the winners of the five categories were: Most Inspirational Individual Award Joanne Benzies, Senior Human Resources Advisor Most Inspirational Team Award Information Governance Team Most Inspirational Partnership Award Modern Matrons Inspirational Improvement Award Rachael Masters, Team Lead Dietitian, Focus on Under-nutrition Chairman’s Award for Inspiration Epilepsy Service.

In recognising a major public health issue posed by under-nutrition in the UK, Rachael Masters, team lead dietitian developed a unique resource to help dietitians and other health professionals identify the condition. Rachael’s innovative idea in developing the Ulna Tape Measure has won her the Inspirational Improvement Award at last night’s ceremony.

The tape measure enables staff to quickly and accurately determine a patient’s height and monitor nutritional status. Within three weeks of its launch over 6500 tape measures were in use nationally. The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition have requested to place it on their website, enabling the tape measure to be used on a worldwide basis.

Tom Hunt, interim chief operating officer of County Durham and Darlington community health services, who presented Rachael with her award, said: “Rachael’s unique passion, perseverance and dedication to something she believed in will make a significant difference to patient care. Her attitude is truly inspirational and a very deserving recipient of this award.

Tom went on to add: “The awards presentation was a fantastic way for staff to come together and celebrate the work of a very dedicated group of individuals. The event showcased some really exciting work which is going on and recognised the passion and commitment staff put into their work.”

Ken Greenfield, Chairperson, said: “The evening was a brilliant opportunity to say thank you and congratulations, not only to those who won awards on the night, but to every single member of staff at the Trust, for all their hard work and dedication in improving and modernising services for the patients we serve. We are extremely proud of all our staff. “ Ends For further information please contact Pat Lawlor, Communications Assistant on 0191 333 3003 or pat.lawlor@nhs.net