IHM awards

The IHM 2008 awards event saw all types of people honoured for their commitment to the healthcare sector and improving services to patients. The institute’s Fellowship and Companionship awards recognise professional management development and expertise, while the unsung heroes and heroines awards honour individuals who make a real difference to the organisation they work for, and to people’s lives.

The winners of this year’s unsung heroes awards, chosen from 54 nominations, are Pamela Dunn, David Stephenson, Brian Cookson, Pauline Hogg and Trudy Wright (pictured below with IHM president Stuart Bain).

Trudy Wright

West Suffolk Hospital patient affairs officer Trudy Wright was nominated for her sensitivity and skill in supporting bereaved families when a patient dies. A trained CRUSE counsellor, Trudy works with doctors, the coroner’s office and funeral directors to ensure post-death procedures run smoothly, balancing the needs of various organisations with respect for people’s feelings. As part of her efforts to provide a truly compassionate service, Trudy takes on extra responsibilities when, for example, police or coroner’s officers are not available, to avoid unnecessary distress, and will help arrange meetings between medical consultants and grieving relatives.

Pam Dunn

Occupational therapy technician Pam Dunn was nominated by her colleagues for the commitment and passion she brings to her work with people with dementia. Other members of the mental health services for older people team at Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership NHS Trust say Pam is absolutely dedicated to service users, spending time with them and their families so each person is seen as a unique individual. She has developed a sensory room, patients’ office and tearoom to provide an uplifting environment.

David Stephenson

Hull Royal Infirmary staff nurse David Stephenson has introduced a new care pathway that has made a significant difference to the way nursing care is provided to dying patients in the hospital’s acute assessment unit. Working closely with the palliative care team, consultants and managers, David has offered teaching sessions, email and personal support to nursing and medical staff caring for patients who are dying. David was also nominated for encouraging greater use of the infirmary’s patient lounge, where people can wait in comfort for transport home.

Brian Cookson

Brian Cookson’s ‘can do’ attitude to a ‘generally thankless task’ – managing the porters at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust – means his name is respected throughout the trust. Brian realises the importance of the day-to-day contact his staff have with patients and their families, and through induction, training and his own approach has ensured that all Salford’s hospital porters know that the patient always comes first. His line manager points out that Brian’s is not a 9-5 job, and ‘his knowledge, understanding and pride have him willingly on call 24/7’.

Pauline Hogg

Dental nurse Pauline Hogg has transformed dental services in the Scottish Borders. She played a key role in setting and up and running an emergency service to provide dental care out-of-hours across the region, and generally extending access to NHS dentistry. Pauline has been instrumental in setting up dental nurse training locally and integrating dental hygienist and dental assistant roles within new service proposals. Her input at strategic level, regionally and nationally, has helped make significant improvements in service availability.

A judging panel of IHM chief executive Sue Hodgetts, PR adviser Geoffrey Bowden and non-executive director Jeannett Martin chose Trudy Wright as the overall winner for 2008. A further 14 nominees were highly commended.

Fellowships

The IHM annual awards presentation also saw 11 institute members achieve IHM Fellowship after participating in a special development programme for members of the Armed Forces.

Col Martin Bricknell, Col Christopher Dickinson, Col Rowland Gill, Col Timothy Hodgetts, Brig Stephen Howe, Brig John McIntosh, Col Martin Nadin, Col Mark Pemberton, Col Peter Sokolow and Col Jerry Tuck, all with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and RAF Group Captain Alan Cowan were recognised for their work at higher levels of management.

The Fellowship process is designed to assess the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to organise and manage healthcare and to enable the delivery of high quality patient care.

Companionship awards

Nine managers received IHM Companionship awards for significant and sustained contribution to the profession of healthcare management.

• NHS Grampian chief executive Richard Carey
• Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive David Fillingham
• Beeches Management Centre chief executive Irene Hewitt
• King’s Fund chief economist and City University lecturer John Appleby
• John Hill Tout, now retired, formerly with the Welsh Assembly Government, who helped develop major policy areas such as waiting times reduction
• IHM South Central region chair Mik Horswell
• London School Economics professor Julian Le Grand
• University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust chief executive Malcolm Lowe-Lauri
• IHM primary care SIG chair Gloria Middleton

Visit the IHM website for more stories and pictures from the awards presentation >