Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service staff and volunteers have been recognised for their hard work and dedication, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, at an annual awards event.
The Excellence Awards featured categories based on the WBHHS values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Through Patients’ Eyes, while other awards include Cultural Connections, Volunteer and Board Ambassadors.
WBHHS Board Chair Peta Jamieson said the awards were an important way to recognise the contribution made by clinical and non clinical staff, as well as volunteers, to WBHHS and the community it serves.
“WBHHS staff and volunteers go above and beyond to deliver the best possible care and outcomes for our patients,” Ms Jamieson said.
“The awards provide an opportunity to recognise how our teams display our values each day as they collaborate, strive for excellence, respect each other and their patients, maintain accountability for their actions and ensure their patients are at the centre of everything they do.
“We’re proud of the outstanding effort they put in serving their community and its great to say thank you for the important work they do each day.”
The Through Patients’ Eyes Award went to Paediatric Palliative, Haematology, Oncology and Connected Care Nurse, Bundaberg Kobi Pollock, for her caring, empathetic and wholistic support to patients and families, no matter where she meets them in their health journey.
Kobi has taken extra steps to contribute to the wellness of her fellow staff, not only
providing hospital wide training around paediatric oncology and haematology care, but also presenting to several departments on her experiences in improving her own wellness.
Other award winners were:
- Collaboration – Shatter The Stigma committee (across region)
- Accountability- Nurse Manager Teams (Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Bundaberg)
- Respect – Dr Himali Ihalagama (Hervey Bay obstetrics and gynaecology)
- Excellence – International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (across region)
- Through Patients’ Eyes – Kobi Pollock (Bundaberg Hospital paediatrics)
- Cultural Connections – Corsino Bacatan (Hervey Bay nurse navigator)
- Volunteer – Sandra Nagel (Maryborough chaplain)
- Board Ambassadors- Ramen Kaur (Bundaberg), Leighann Lyttle (Hervey Bay), Fiona Prescott (Maryborough) and Loretta Mooney (Biggenden)
WBHHS Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said the annual awards were an excellent reminder that the everyday actions and commitment of staff and volunteers made a real difference to the care of their patients.
“Our hospital and services across the region have faced unprecedented growth in demand and the COVID-19 pandemic so it’s easy for staff to be too busy to actually reflect on what they’ve achieved,” Ms Carroll said.
“That’s why the Excellence Awards are important, it’s our chance to recognise our colleagues for their work and for each and every member of our team to reflect on their own achievements and dedication.
“Looking at the finalists and winners, it’s really pleasing to see so much diversity in the geographic areas people are from, in the services they provide and the projects they’ve been working on.”
