Winners announced at SCHN Quality Awards
Surgeons, allied health teams, nurses, administration, specialists and partners in health were recognised last night for raising the bar for children’s healthcare.
Their innovative projects, and extraordinary efforts to improve outcomes for patients and their families, were laid bare in front of colleagues as 10 team and three individual award winners were announced at the Network’s 2019 Annual Quality and Innovation Awards ceremony.
Held at the Kirribilli Club in Lavendar Bay for the first time, there was laughter, tears and applause as Masters of Ceremony Dr Silly Billy and Dr Quak from the Humour Foundation, led guests through the evening.
During proceedings, former Network patient Jessica Hardy gave a courageous insight into the impact her care teams have had on her and her family over years. Jessica was receiving treatment for ‘diastematomyelia’ - a congenital disorder of the spinal cord.
“Thank you for easing the pain, not letting us give up and helping us through the darkest of tunnels,” the 18-year-old-year said.
Professor Nadia Badawi accepted the Collaborative Leader of the Year Award on Dr Gordon Thomas’ behalf, noting a rise in the number of new female staff members and morale since he had joined the team. Watch Dr Thomas' acceptance speech.
Outstanding Staff Member of the Year, Dr Ahmed Moustafa, was ‘humbled and speechless’ on accepting his Award, admitting he thought the email was spam.
“It’s ridiculous to be standing here, because it’s not about us as individuals but how we all connect,” Dr Moustafa said.
The passion of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick volunteer Lyn Peek was clear as she accepted the Volunteer of the Year Award for her excellence in serving as a family representative at the Hospital.
“It’s an honour and a privilege. My daughter was a long-term patient and passed away two-and-half-years-ago. I thoroughly enjoy working on so many committees and hope I’m helping others and lettering her life live on,” Lyn said.
Acting Chief Executive Cheryl McCullagh said the Awards will continue to focus on meeting objectives of the Network’s Strategic Plan 2017-2022, which prioritises the need to deliver an integrated health system, creative partnerships, and improved efficiencies to support better health outcomes for kids and young people in NSW.
“The humanity of the people we work with is extraordinary,” Cheryl said.
“I’m grateful to all of you for caring for each other, and our patients, every single day.”
See the photos from the Awards ceremony.
The winners
Team section
Patients as Partners
A Recipe for Healthy ChIPS. Trapeze
Delivering Integrated Health Care
Little Wings – From thought to evaluation. Little Wings
Patient Safety First
Prevention of M. abscessus cross-infection in CF (Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases SCH
Keeping People Healthy
RAAP: Respiratory Admission Avoidance Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Department SCH
Supporting our people
Post Critical Incident Huddles in the CHW Emergency Department. Emergency Department CHW
A Safe, Healthy Workplace
Staffing for risk-the right nurse for each patient. Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, CHW
Health, Research and Innovation
Re-engage: A program for childhood cancer survivors. Oncology SCH
Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services
Being Mindful. Hall Ward, CHW
Excellence in Allied Health
Impact of an enteral feeding algorithm in CICU. Nutrition and Dietetics and Children’s Intensive Care Unit, SCH
Small Changes for Big Improvements
Hearts in Motion: A Cardiac Fast-Track Pathway. PICU, Anaesthesia, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology, CHW
Individual
Collaborative Leader of the Year
Gordon Thomas, Paediatric Surgeon
Outstanding Staff Member of the Year
Ahmed Moustafa, Staff Specialist, Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care
Volunteer of the Year
Lyn Peek, Sydney Children’s Hospital