Blaze-hit ward staff get special honour

Brave hospital staff whose actions ensured the safety of patients during a devastating fire have received a surprise award.

It was announced during the Swansea Bay University Health Board Chairman’s VIP Awards on Thursday evening, prompting a standing ovation from the audience.

The workers from ward 12 at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital were told by Chairman Professor Andrew Davies their “calm, composed and effective training from fire marshall Pat Howells (now known as Fireman Pat)” saved patients from potentially serious injury.

 

Caption: Staff from ward 12 receive their special award from Chairman Andrew Davies and Chief Executive Tracy Myhill

Professor Davies said he and Swansea Bay’s Chief Executive Tracy Myhill decided to honour staff as they had been so impressed by their response to the emergency in March.

He said: “All the staff have said that if it hadn’t been for the training that Pat had undertaken so positively, there may have been more serious damage and maybe harm to patients and staff.”

Few knew the specially-created award was to be handed out during the health board’s fifth annual VIP (Values Into Practice) ceremony hosted by radio presenter Kev Johns.

Caption: The audience gave the staff from Singleton Hospital ward 12 a standing ovation as they walked to the stage

The awards, voted for by staff and the public, celebrate some of the most inspiring work being undertaken by staff who have gone above and beyond.

The announcement of the special award was greeted with cheers and a spontaneous standing ovation by colleagues from across the health board.

Since the fire ward 12, an oncology ward, has been relocated to ward 20 at Singleton Hospital while repairs take place.

Many other health board staff members and volunteers were also honoured for their innovation and commitment during the glittering occasion at Margam Organgery.

Jackie Cadmore who, at 80, is almost a decade older than the NHS itself, was awarded one of two Chair’s Challenge cups for her stalwart work as a clerical officer at Singleton Hospital.

She first joined the health service as a 17-year-old trainee nurse in Morriston Hospital during the days of strict matrons and starched sheets in 1956.

The other Challenge Cup recipient was operating theatre nurse Dominique Potokar for her work to improve burns care in developing countries through the Interburns international volunteer network.

Gorseinon Community Hospital Multidisciplinary Team and Hospital to Home Scheme were honoured with the Always Improving Award.

Since December 2018, they have made significant changes and improvements, which make it safer and easier for patients to move around and socialise during their recovery.

Ms Myhill said: “As your Chief Executive I love nothing more than hearing of all the wonderful things our people are doing to support the people we serve.

Caption: The Gorseinon Community Hospital MDT and Hospital to Home Team received the Always Improving Award

“Recognising and celebrating our people and their achievement is a fundamental part of how we do things here at Swansea Bay. Events such as these are an opportunity for us to say thank you for your sterling work throughout the year.”

A successful annual appeal, which collects hundreds of bags of donations of clothes, toiletries and other essentials from health board staff to support rough sleepers and the vulnerably housed in the Swansea area, scooped both the Caring For Each Other and Ultimate VIP awards.

Run for five years by mental health nurse Pat Dwan and homelessness nurse Janet Keauffling in conjunction with the health board’s communications department and homeless charity The Wallich, it distributes donations to those most in need during the coldest months and throughout the rest of the year.

Unfortunately Pat, who has been one of the project’s leading lights, was on holiday and unable to attend the awards.

Dr Manju Nair and midwives Sharon Jones and Catrin Ellis’ fundraising work, which led to the purchase of a double bed for bereaved families to spend precious time together, received the Going the Extra Mile Award.

Their passion encouraged colleagues to join their Bollywood dance group, which performed during a fundraising event.

Attention to the details that make a world of difference to patients and their families scooped the Working Together Award for the Neuro Rehabilitation Unit Team at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

Examples of that individual and compassionate care include buying a Valentine’s Day card for a patient who was too ill to leave the ward so they could give it to their partner and ensuring therapy and nursing interventions do not clash with meal times. Staff also work with patients on art and craft projects and ensure the unit has a homely feel.

Caption: The Working Together Award went to the Neuro Rehabilitation Unit Team

Professor Davies, who is stepping down as chairman, said: “To provide such care requires passion and commitment from motivated, dedicated and loyal staff who learn, develop and improve what they do, so we can provide a first class service.”

The health board wishes to thank the many sponsors who made this event possible: The College of Human & Health Sciences at Swansea University; Gower College, Swansea; Medacs Healthcare; Allocate; the Ospreys; Blake Morgan; Ferry Flowers and Gifts, the Royal College of Nursing and Neath Port Talbot College.

On the night £1,341.40 was also raised for the health board’s charitable fund through a raffle and table envelopes.

Staff ward dewr a wnaeth sicrhau diogelwch cleifion yn ystod tân difrodus wedi derbyn gwobr annisgwyl

Mae staff ysbyty dewr a wnaeth sicrhau diogelwch cleifion yn ystod tân difrodus wedi derbyn gwobr annisgwyl.

Cyhoeddwyd hyn yn ystod Gwobrau VIP Cadeirydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe ar nos Iau, gyda’r gynulleidfa yn rhoi cymeradwyaeth sefyll iddynt.

Dywedodd y Cadeirydd, yr Athro Andrew Davies, wrth y gweithwyr o ward 12 yn Ysbyty Singleton Abertawe fod eu “hyfforddiant pwyllog, hunanfeddiannol ac effeithiol gan y swyddog tân, Pat Howells, (a elwir bellach yn Fireman Pat) wedi arbed cleifion rhag y posibilrwydd o anafiadau difrifol.

Dywedodd yr Athro Davies ei fod ef a Tracy Myhill, Prif Weithredwr Bae Abertawe, wedi penderfynu anrhydeddu’r staff gan fod eu hymateb i’r argyfwng wedi cael cymaint o argraff arnynt ym mis Mawrth.

Dywedodd: “Mae’r holl staff wedi dweud, heblaw am yr hyfforddiant hynod o gadarnhaol Pat, y gallai’r difrod wedi bod yn fwy difrifol o lawer ac efallai’n cynnwys niwed i gleifion a staff.”

Ychydig a wyddai y byddai’r wobr a grëwyd yn arbennig yn cael ei dosbarthu yn ystod pumed seremoni flynyddol VIP (Gwerthoedd i mewn i Arfer) y bwrdd iechyd gyda’r cyflwynydd radio Kev Johns fel gwesteiwr.

Capsiwn: Rhoddodd y gynulleidfa gymeradwyaeth sefyll i’r staff o ward Ysbyty Singleton wrth iddynt gerdded i’r llwyfan

Mae’r gwobrau, y pleidleisiwyd arnynt gan staff a’r cyhoedd, yn dathlu peth o’r gwaith mwyaf ysbrydoledig sy’n cael ei wneud gan staff sydd wedi mynd yr ail filltir.

Afforded y cyhoeddiad am y wobr arbennig ei gyfarch gan floeddiadau o gymeradwyaeth a chymeradwyaeth sefyll digymell gan gydweithwyr o bob rhan o’r bwrdd iechyd.

Capsiwn: Rhoddodd y gynulleidfa gymeradwyaeth sefyll i’r staff o ward Ysbyty Singleton wrth iddynt gerdded i’r llwyfan

 

Ers y tân yn ward 12, ward oncoleg, cafodd ei hadleoli i ward 20 yn Ysbyty Singleton tra bod atgyweiriadau’n digwydd.

Cafodd llawer o aelodau eraill o staff y bwrdd iechyd a gwirfoddolwyr eu hanrhydeddu hefyd am eu dyfeisgarwch a’u hymrwymiad yn ystod yr achlysur disglair yn Orendy Margam.

Cafodd Jackie Cadmore, a oedd, yn 80 oed, bron i ddegawd yn hŷn na’r GIG ei hun, un o ddau gwpan Sialens y Cadeirydd ar gyfer ei gwaith anhygoel fel swyddog clerigol yn Ysbyty Singleton.

Ymunodd yn gyntaf â’r gwasanaeth iechyd fel nyrs dan hyfforddiant 17 mlwydd oed yn Ysbyty Treforys yn ystod dyddiau y metronau llym a dillad gwely wedi ei startsio yn 1956.

Y derbynnydd Cwpan Her arall oedd y nyrs theatr llawdriniaethau, Dominique Potokar, am ei gwaith i wella gofal llosgiadau mewn gwledydd sy’n datblygu drwy Interburns, y rhwydwaith gwirfoddolwyr rhyngwladol.

Cafodd Tîm Amlddisgyblaethol Ysbyty Cymunedol Gorseinon a’r Cynllun Ysbyty i Gartref eu hanrhydeddu â’r Wobr Gwella Bob Amser.

Ers mis Rhagfyr 2018, maent wedi gwneud newidiadau a gwelliannau sylweddol, sy’n ei gwneud yn fwy diogel ac yn haws i gleifion symud o gwmpas a chymdeithasu yn ystod eu hadferiad.

Dywedodd Ms Myhill: “Fel eich Prif Weithredwr, fy hoff beth yw i glywed am yr holl bethau gwych y mae ein pobl yn eu gwneud i gefnogi’r bobl yr ydym yn eu gwasanaethu.

Capsiwn: Derbyniodd Tîm Amlddisgyblaethol Ysbyty Cymuned Gorseinon a Thîm Ysbyty i Gartref Wobr Gwella Bob Amser

“Mae cydnabod a dathlu ein pobl a’u cyflawniad yn rhan sylfaenol o sut rydym yn gwneud pethau yma ym Mae Abertawe. Mae digwyddiadau fel y rhain yn gyfle i ni ddweud diolch am eich gwaith gwych drwy gydol y flwyddyn. ”

Enillodd apêl flynyddol lwyddiannus, sy’n casglu cannoedd o fagiau o roddion o ddillad, pethau ymolchi a hanfodion eraill gan staff y bwrdd iechyd i gefnogi pobl sy’n cysgu ar y stryd a’r rhai sydd mewn llety bregus yn ardal Abertawe, y gwobrau VIP Gofalu Am Ein Gilydd a’r Wobr Orau.

Rhedwyd ef am bum mlynedd gan Pat Dwan, nyrs iechyd meddwl, a Janet Keauffling, nyrs digartrefedd, ar y cyd gydag adran gyfathrebu’r bwrdd iechyd a’r elusen ddigartref The Wallich, ac mae’n dosbarthu rhoddion i’r rhai mwyaf anghenus yn ystod y misoedd oeraf a thrwy weddill y flwyddyn.

Yn anffodus, roedd Pat, sydd wedi bod yn un o brif arweinwyr y prosiect, ar wyliau ac yn methu â mynychu’r gwobrau.

Derbyniodd Dr Manju Nair a’r bydwragedd Sharon Jones a Catrin Ellis y Wobr Mynd yr Ail Filltir ar gyfer eu gwaith codi arian –  a arweiniodd at brynu gwely dwbl i deuluoedd mewn profedigaeth i dreulio amser gwerthfawr gyda’i gilydd.

Fe wnaeth eu brwdfrydedd annog cydweithwyr i ymuno â’u grŵp dawns Bollywood, a berfformiodd yn ystod digwyddiad codi arian.

Mae talu sylw i’r manylion sy’n gwneud byd o wahaniaeth i gleifion a’u teuluoedd wedi arwain at Dîm yr Uned Adsefydlu Niwrolegol yn Ysbyty Castell-nedd Port Talbot i  ennill y Wobr Gweithio gyda’n Gilydd.

Mae enghreifftiau o’r gofal unigol a thosturiol hwn yn cynnwys prynu cerdyn Dydd Sant Ffolant ar gyfer claf a oedd yn rhy sâl i adael y ward fel y gallent ei roi i’w partner a sicrhau nad yw ymyriadau therapi a nyrsio yn gwrthdaro ag amseroedd prydau bwyd. Mae staff hefyd yn gweithio gyda chleifion ar brosiectau celf a chrefft ac yn sicrhau bod gan yr uned deimlad cartrefol.

Capsiwn: Aeth y Wobr Gweithio gyda’n Gilydd i’r Tîm Uned Adsefydlu Niwrolegol

Dywedodd yr Athro Davies, sy’n camu i lawr fel cadeirydd: “Er mwyn darparu gofal o’r fath mae angen staff brwdfrydig, ymroddedig a ffyddlon sy’n dysgu, datblygu a gwella’r hyn y maent yn ei wneud, fel y gallwn ddarparu gwasanaeth o’r radd flaenaf.”

Hoffai’r bwrdd iechyd ddiolch i’r nifer fawr o noddwyr a wnaeth y digwyddiad hwn yn bosibl: Coleg y Gwyddorau Dynol ac Iechyd ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe; Coleg Gŵyr, Abertawe; Medacs Healthcare; Allocate; y Gweilch; Blake Morgan; Ferry Flowers and Gifts, Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol a Choleg Castell-nedd Port Talbot.

Codwyd £1,341.40 ar y noson hefyd ar gyfer cronfa elusennol y bwrdd iechyd trwy raffl ac amlenni bwrdd.