The Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHSS) recently celebrated outstanding achievements in local healthcare at its 2023 Excellence Awards.
The annual Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the contributions of individuals and teams who consistently go above and beyond in their service to the community.
The awards night was attended by award finalists and their families as well as WBHHS leadership and special guest speaker Sara Faraj.
WBHHS 2023 Excellence Award winners:
Collaboration Award
Bundaberg Acute Care Team for their ongoing dedication to enhanced mental health care in the community and their commitment to partnering with local NGO’s and other agencies.
Accountability Award
The Gin Gin Hospital Team for their ongoing advocacy and excellence in nursing services offered to their local community.
The Gin Gin Hospital Team received overwhelmingly positive community feedback, highlighting the exceptional impact of their team on the local community.
Respect Award
Kate Close (Porter, Bundaberg) for the consistent, sensitive support she offers for morgue cases, including stakeholder engagement, diligence and an ongoing commitment to the dignity of deceased patients and their families.
Through Patients’ Eyes Award (joint winners)
Ashlea Seabrook (Social Worker, Childers) for being a tireless advocate for the rights and the voices of her patients.
She has approached patient care collaboratively, involving patients and their carers in the decision-making process.
The Step Up Step Down Team for providing a structured service and person-centred recovery model.
The service provides a ’step up’ from the community setting to avoid mental health inpatient admission, and a ’step down’ from the inpatient unit to assist in transitioning home.
Volunteer Award
Peter Nell for his positive outlook, considered comments and willingness to take on various tasks, all in an effort to engage with the health service to ensure consumer perspectives are integrated into service delivery and evaluation.
WBHH Board Values Ambassador Awards
Torgeir Kvernhusvik (Radiographer, Bundaberg) for his consistent leadership, teamwork and support for other radiographers in the health service, including reviewing all X-rays taken by the rural operators and providing ongoing mentoring and constructive feedback to allow them to optimise their skills.
The event was also attended by the Minister for Health Hon Shannon Fentiman, Acting Director General of Queensland Health Michael Walsh and other dignitaries.
WBHHS Chief Executive Debbi Carroll said it was wonderful to see the quality and diversity in the 277 nominations received.
“I would like to acknowledge the individual staff and teams who were nominated,” Debbi said.
“Each and every day I am proud of the work you all do and the outcomes we achieve for our patients, consumers and community as a result of all your efforts.
“Together we can make a difference and together we can make our healthcare system stronger.”
