West Moreton Health staff have been recognised at their annual Caring Better Together Awards, the highlight of the first Caring Better Together Week for the health service.
West Moreton Health Interim Chief Executive Hannah Bloch said this year, in addition to rewarding staff achievements at an awards ceremony, the health service celebrated Caring Better Together Week, acknowledging the hard work of all staff.
“It’s been a big year for the staff working across all West Moreton Health facilities,” Ms Bloch said.
“They supported the community through flooding, Omicron waves and an extended winter season, all while maintaining a high standard of care day in and day out.
“The Caring Better Together Week and awards were a chance to say thank you to staff for their dedication to the West Moreton community at a difficult time,” Ms Bloch said.
More than 70 nominations were submitted by staff in recognition of their colleagues across four categories: Strengthen our communities; Care for our people; Safe, quality care, now and into the future; and #EveryoneIsALeader.
This year’s winners were:
Care for our people: Allison McGregor, Director of Nursing Esk and Laidley hospitals
Strengthen our communities: Maurice Woodley, Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer
Safe, quality care, now and into the future: Master Plan Team
#EveryoneIsALeader: Linda Edwards, Clinical Nurse Consultant Stroke Ward
“One of the things I have noticed during my time at West Moreton Health is the great support staff offer one another. To be nominated for an award by a co-worker is a wonderful acknowledgement and a sign of their respect,” Ms Bloch said.
“The calibre of nominations for this year’s awards was terrific and made for some difficult decisions for our judging panel.
“During Caring Better Together Week, we celebrated all West Moreton Health staff, working across our 24/7 health service, for the care and support they provide to the community every day,” Ms Bloch said.
Award categories and winners
Care for people
The award recognises an individual or team’s ability to foster a culture where our people thrive and know they are valued.
Winner: Allison McGregor, Director of Nursing, Esk and Laidley hospitals
When Esk and Laidley were severely affected by flooding this year, the safety of staff and community were Allison’s primary concerns as she guided her hospital teams’ response to the crisis. After the floods, Allison arranged a thank you day for staff and community response teams, creating greater connections between staff and emergency service providers and a stronger sense of community in Esk and Laidley. She will often travel between sites on the same day to deal with issues as they arise.
Strengthen our communities
The award recognises outstanding work in delivering equitable, person-centred care in the community and for each other.
Winner: Maurice Woodley, Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer
Maurice works on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strategy across West Moreton Health. As a key partner in education program development for nurses, he ensures that important information pertaining to the care and needs of First Nations people are included in these programs. Maurice is committed to health equity, leading the Cultural Safety and Racism working group, and bridging the gap by connecting the community and cultures.
Safe, quality care, now and into the future
The award recognises an individual or team’s ability to grow, shape and adapt along with the community we serve.
Winner: Master Plan Team
The Master Plan Team has facilitated the West Moreton Health Master Plan, which provides the road map for the Health Service for the next 25 years. The team has delivered several key infrastructure and Master Plan components, including the new 26-bed ward at Ipswich Hospital, a state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging suite and detailed design of the Acute Mental Health Unit currently under construction on Chelmsford Avenue.
#EveryoneIsALeader
The award recognises the qualities required to lead (in whatever role), focusing on the leadership dimensions of patients, people, improvement and relationships.
Winner: Linda Edwards, Clinical Nurse Consultant Stroke Ward
Linda is a driving force when it comes to better outcomes for stroke patients in West Moreton. Linda has forged strong, healthy and respectful relationships with internal and external stakeholders with better patient outcomes always topping her priority list. Her humble, modest, caring and positive persona has earned her the respect of her peers. Her commitment has been further cemented with the rollout of the 24/7 stroke service in the past 12 months.