District nurse Stella Wainwright scooped the top prize at the Sirona Awards for Excellence 2013 for her care of a family at the end of a loved one’s life.
Sister Wainwright, a Sirona care & health district nurse based in Batheaston, was nominated by John Richards, a grandfather who lives in the village for the ‘immense contribution’ she made to him and his wife, Hal, who died at home from cancer earlier this year.
She was one of 10 winners at the annual event held on the anniversary of the social enterprise’s foundation at the Assembly Rooms in Bath.
Mr Richards said in his nomination: “I am recommending this district nurse for an award for the immense contribution she made to both of us during the last few weeks of my wife’s life.
“Throughout our short acquaintance, both of us were impressed not only with her professionalism but also with her kindness and her support which did not end with my wife’s death.
“She took a personal interest in the person. Hal took a lot of reassurance from the fact that Stella was looking after her.”
Sister Wainwright said: “I was absolutely stunned because I know it sounds like a cliché but I was only doing my job. Every patient is special. I was trying to do for this family what I do for all my patients. As a district nurse, it is not just the patient we care for but the whole family.”
Sister Wainwright won not only the I Think They Deserve It award which saw nominations from people across Bath and North East Somerset who have used Sirona services but also the overall award for excellence.
The judges were Sirona’s chairman Simon Knighton, chief executive Janet Rowse and editor of the Bath Chronicle and Somerset Guardian Lynne Fernquest.
Simon, chairman of Sirona care & health, said: “It’s sometimes hard to believe that it is two years since Sirona was founded and October 1 also marks another leap forward for us as we welcome our new colleagues from the specialist services for people with Learning Difficulties in South Gloucestershire.
“All of what we do as Sirona is because of our fantastic staff – not just you who are here tonight but every single one of our 1800 strong workforce who through daily hard work, commitment and dedication to high quality care delivered in a compassionate and professional way have given Sirona a well-deserved reputation for excellence.”
Janet added: “I feel very proud and privileged to be leading such a first class organisation. My goal has always been to ensure that everyone in Sirona provides care in a way that they would want it for their own family and loved ones. The stories we have heard from across a wide range of services has demonstrated how this is becoming a reality within Sirona.”
Winners
Student or Apprentice of the Year: Winner Zoe Ware. Highly Commended: Georgia Westlake.
Community Volunteer of the Year: Winner Pippa Hawkins. Highly Commended: Kathy Matthews.
Manager of the Year: Winner Lee Tippett. Highly Commended: Helen Rugg.
I think they deserve it award: Winner Stella Wainwright. Highly Commended Lisa Higgins and Sarah Walker..
Working Together Award: Winner The Orchard Extra Care Staff Team. Highly Commended Avondown House.
Award for Outstanding Service Delivery – Individual: Winner Nelly Targett. Highly Commended Mary Chivers.
Award for Outstanding Service Delivery – Team: Winner: Baby Feeding Support for Young Parents Team – Jo Webb and Catherine Henaghan. Highly Commended Switchboard Team St Martin’s Hospital, Bath.
Chief Executive’s Award for Taking It Personally: Winner Vicki Massey.
Chairman’s Award for Innovation: Winner Louise Lees.
Sirona Award for Excellence 2013: Stella Wainwright.
