Ward manager receives Daisy Award
A senior staff nurse from University Hospitals of North Midlands has been awarded a prestigious award after she was nominated for her determination and leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognises the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care that nurses and midwives provide to their patients and their families every day and was awarded to Rebecca Wilson, Ward Manager on Ward 117 at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Gwen Hatton, Associate Chief Nurse for Medicine, who nominated Rebecca for the award, said: "Rebecca and her team on Ward 117 have managed Covid-19 patients continually since the beginning of the pandemic. Ward 117 is our infectious diseases award and therefore it was the first ward to look after patients with Covid-19 back in 2020. In the very early stages of the pandemic Rebecca and the team provided training and support to other ward areas that were also set to look after Covid-19 patients, whilst continuing to provide quality care for patients with other infectious diseases safely and efficiently.
“Rebecca has continued to remain positive and motivated, keeping up the morale on her ward by providing exceptional support and leadership to her team, all while working on expanding the team’s skills on a daily basis. I am honoured as Divisional Nurse Director for medicine to have such a caring and compassionate leader on one of our wards. She goes above and beyond every day for both patients and her colleagues and she truly deserves the recognition and accolade afforded by this award.”
Rebecca Wilson said: “I am overwhelmed to receive this award and extremely honoured. This award very much belongs to my team as it does to me because of how hard we have all worked during this pandemic. The team have adapted to all challenges thrown their way and have been extremely resilient throughout. I could not have done it without them and their support.”
Ann-Marie Riley, Chief Nurse at UHNM, said: “I was absolutely thrilled to present Rebecca with her Daisy Award as she was recognised for her superb leadership throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Rebecca and her team have been extremely responsive to the needs of our Covid-19 patients since the start of the pandemic and I am incredibly proud of how she has led her team throughout what has undoubtedly been the most challenging period the NHS has seen.”
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in the USA, in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) which is an auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and their families. The Daisy Award has been adopted by healthcare facilities around the world to celebrate nurses for their extraordinary care and compassion.